Republic of the Philippines

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

(University of the City of Manila)
General Luna Street comer Muralla Street
Intramuros, Manila

COLLEGE OF NURSING
(Dalubhasaan ng Narsing)

BACON – SKILLS LABORATORY CHECKLIST # 1

Medical Hand Washing Technique

Name: ________________________ Date: __________

Year Level and Block: ___________ Clinical Instructor: ___________

Rating scale:

3 - Performed correctly , systematically according to standard with correct

rationale.
2 - Performed correctly , systematically but with inadequate/incorrect rationale.
1 - Performed correctly , not systematically with inadequate/incorrect rationale.
0 - Performed incorrectly/not done.

Purpose

• Prevents the growth and spread of pathogenic microorganisms from one

individual or environment to another individual or environment
Objectives of the Procedure:
• To reduce the number of microorganisms on the hands
• To reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms to clients
• To reduce the risk of cross contamination among clients
• To reduce the risk of transmission of infectious organisms to oneself
Equipment/Materials needed:
• Soap (bar or liquid, preferably antimicrobial/antibacterial soap)
• Tap or lukewarm running water
• Paper towels or single use cloth/towel (clean and dry)
Special consideration
• An anti-microbial soap product or use of antiseptic cleaning agent is recommended
before an invasive procedure, wound care, dressing changes and after exposure to
blood or body fluids. Antiseptic cleaning is also recommended before working in
isolation rooms, neonate nurseries and before caring for highly susceptible patients.
The length of the scrub will vary based on need.
• Health care workers who wear rings have a higher bacterial count after washing
than those who wore no rings.
• Sinks with various faucet controls are available. In addition to the more common
hand faucets, knee and foot operated control may be used. Sinks with elbow control
are generally used in a surgical setting.
• Follow facility policy on when to wash with soap and when to use an antiseptic
cleaning agent
• Always wash your hands after removing gloves
• If there is no running water, disinfect your hands with an antiseptic cleaning agent
 • If your hands aren’t visibly soiled, am alcohol-based hand rub can be used for
routine decontamination
Implementation of the procedure:

Performance Remarks/Suggestion
Procedure/Steps 3 2 1 0 DEMERIT

1. Prepare the equipment/materials

needed.
Note: Determine the location of
running water/sink/faucet and soap or
soap substitutes.

2. Prepare and asses your hand.

• Remove jewelry.

• Ensure that nails are kept

short.

• Check hands for breaks in the

or
cuts and if heavily soiled.

3. Stand in front of sink, keeping

hands and uniform away from sink
surface during the washing procedure.

Note: If hand/s touches sink during

hand washing repeat the procedure.

4. Turn on the water.

The five common types of faucet
controls areas.
a. Hand-operated handles.
b. Knee levers.
c. Foot pedals.
d. Elbows controls. Move these with
the elbows instead of the hands.
e. Infrared control. Motion in front of
the sensor causes water to start
and stop flowing automatically.

5. Regulate flow of water so that

temperature is warm.
Note: Avoid splashing water against
uniform.

6. Wet the hands and wrist area

thoroughly by holding them lower than
the elbow under running water so that
the water flows from the wrist to the
fingertips.

• Keep hands and forearms

lower when washing
7. Apply soap to the hands. Cover all
areas of hands with the soap product
and rub vigorously
• If soap is liquid, apply 3-5ml (1
tsp.)
• If it is bar soap, rub firmly
between hands and rinse the
bar soap before returning it to
the dish.
8. With soap on hands, rub vigorously
keep fingertips down to facilitate
removal of microorganism using
plenty of lather and friction for at least
5x, each of the following steps for the
duration of 15-30 seconds.

a. Palm to palm
b. Right palm over left dorsum and
left palm over right dorsum.

c. Palm to palm fingers interlaced.

d. Backs of fingers to opposing
palm with fingers interlocked.

e. Rotational rubbing backwards of

right thumb clasped in left palm
and vice versa.
f. Rotational rubbing backwards
and forwards with clasped fingers
of right hand in left palm and vice
versa.
Note:
• If the hands are heavily soiled
wash at least 1 inch above
area of contamination.
• If hands are not visibly soiled,
wash to 1 inch above the
wrists.

9. Rinse hands from fingers to wrist

thoroughly under flow of running water
keeping hands down and elbow up.

• Note: Repeat 7 to 9 and

extend period of washing if
hands are heavily soiled.

10. Pat dry the hands thoroughly

moving from fingers to wrist and
forearms (if applicable) without
rubbing the paper towel or single-use
cloth/towel.

11. Discard paper towel in proper

receptacles.
If cloth towel is used, dry one hand
thoroughly in rotating motion from the
fingers to wrist (or elbow if applicable)
using other end towel and dry the
other hand and arm with other half of
the towel.

12. Turn off water as per the type of

the faucet control.
• To turn off hand faucet, use
clean, dry paper towel.
• Avoid touching handles with
hands.

Documentation

• Document proper hand washing as it pertains to specific patient care

Evaluation

• Infection is prevented from spreading.

 • Cross contamination is prevented.
• Nurse is protected from infection.

References:
Lynn, Pamela (2011). Taylor’s Clinic Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach 3rd Edition.
Wolkers Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Nurses’ Guide to Clinical Procedures 6th Edition, 2010. Jean Smith-Temple, Joyce Young
Johnson
Nurse’s Quick Check – Skills. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Total Deduction of Demerit: ________

• Prescribed Hair (__)

• Prescribed Uniform (__)
• Completeness of paraphernalia/equipment/supplies (__)

Total score: _____________

I fully understand how I was graded for this skill and it was properly explained to me.
______________________________
Student’s FULLNAME & Signature
Date: ______________

I have explained and discussed how I have graded my student for this particular skill.
___________________________
Clinical Instructor FULLNAME & Signature
Date: _________

Prepared by: Prof. Maria Andrea L. Endeno – 2nd Semester 2017-2018

Modified/Updated & Revised by: Dr. Jennifer P. Reyes and Prof. Aris S. Santos – 2nd Semester
2020-2021
 Republic of the Philippines
PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
(University of the City of Manila)
General Luna Street comer Muralla Street
Intramuros, Manila

COLLEGE OF NURSING
(Dalubhasaan ng Narsing)

BACON – SKILLS LABORATORY CHECKLIST # 1

Medical Hand Washing

Purpose
• Prevents the growth and spread of pathogenic microorganisms from one
individual or environment to another individual or environment
Objectives of the Procedure:
• To reduce the number of microorganisms on the hands
• To reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms to clients
• To reduce the risk of cross contamination among clients
• To reduce the risk of transmission of infectious organisms to oneself
Equipment/Materials needed:
• Soap (bar or liquid, preferably antimicrobial/antibacterial soap)
• Tap or lukewarm running water
• Paper towels or single use cloth/towel (clean and dry)
Special consideration
• An anti-microbial soap product or use of antiseptic cleaning agent is recommended
before an invasive procedure, wound care, dressing changes and after exposure to
blood or body fluids. Antiseptic cleaning is also recommended before working in
isolation rooms, neonate nurseries and before caring for highly susceptible patients.
The length of the scrub will vary based on need.
• Health care workers who wear rings have a higher bacterial count after washing
than those who wore no rings.
• Sinks with various faucet controls are available. In addition to the more common
hand faucets, knee and foot operated control may be used. Sinks with elbow control
are generally used in a surgical setting.
• Follow facility policy on when to wash with soap and when to use an antiseptic
cleaning agent
• Always wash your hands after removing gloves
• If there is no running water, disinfect your hands with an antiseptic cleaning agent
• If your hands aren’t visibly soiled, am alcohol-based hand rub can be used for
routine decontamination

Implementation of the procedure:

STEPS RATIONALE
1. Prepare the equipment/materials needed. • To save time and effort
• Note: Determine the location of running
water/sink/faucet and soap or soap
substitutes.
2. Prepare and asses your hand.
• Remove jewelry.
• Ensure that nails are kept short.
• Check hands for breaks in the or
cuts and if heavily soiled.
3. Stand in front of sink, keeping hands and uniform
away from sink surface during the washing
procedure.
• Note: If hand/s touches sink during hand
washing repeat the procedure.
4. Turn on the water.
The five common types of faucet controls are:
a. Hand-operated handles.
b. Knee levers.
c. Foot pedals.
d. Elbows controls. Move these with
the elbows instead of the hands.
e. Infrared control. Motion in front of
the sensor causes water to start
and stop flowing automatically.
5. Regulate flow of water so that temperature is
warm.
• Note: Avoid splashing water against uniform.
6. Wet the hands and wrist area thoroughly by
holding them lower than the elbow under running
water so that the water flows from the wrist to the
fingertips.
• Note: Keep hands and forearms lower when
washing
7. Apply soap to the hands. Cover all areas of hands
with the soap product and rub vigorously
• If soap is liquid, apply 3-5ml (1 tsp.)
• Provide complete access to fingers, hands
and wrists.
• Microorganism can lodge in the settings of
jewelry. Removal facilitates proper
cleaning of the hands and arms (if needed).
• Short, natural nails are less likely to harbor
microorganism, scratch a client, or
puncture gloves.
• Open cuts or wounds can harbor high
concentration of microorganism. A nurse
who has open sores may have to change
work assignment or wear gloves to avoid
contact with infectious materials.
• A heavily soiled hand requires longer hand
washing.
• Inside of sink is a contaminated area.
Reaching over sink increases risk of
touching the edge, which is contaminated.
• Running water rinses dirt and
microorganism away into the sink.
• Warm water removes less of the protective
oil of the skin.
• Cold water does not facilitate suds in
cleaning.
• Water splashed from the contaminated
sink will contaminate clothing.
Microorganism travel and grow in
moisture.
• Wetting the hands thoroughly before
applying soap facilitate removal of
pathogen.
• Water should flow from least to most
contaminated area; hands are the most
contaminated parts to be washed; permits
cleaning of the dirtiest areas without
risking contamination of other less dirty
areas.
• Soap cleanses by emulsifying fat and oil
and lowering surface tension.
 • If it is bar soap, rub firmly between hands
and rinse the bar soap before returning it to
the dish.
8. With soap on hands, rub vigorously keep
fingertips down to facilitate removal of
microorganism using plenty of lather and friction
for at least 5x, each of the following steps for the
duration of 15-30 seconds.
a. Palm to palm
b. Right palm over left dorsum and
left palm over right dorsum.
c. Palm to palm fingers interlaced.
d. Backs of fingers to opposing
palm with fingers interlocked.
e. Rotational rubbing backwards of
right thumb clasped in left palm
and vice versa.
f. Rotational rubbing backwards
and forwards with clasped fingers
of right hand in left palm and vice
versa.
Note:
• If the hands are heavily soiled wash at least 1
inch above area of contamination.
• If hands are not visibly soiled, wash to 1 inch
above the wrists.
9. Rinse hands from fingers to wrist thoroughly
under flow of running water keeping hands down
and elbow up.
• Repeat 7 to 9 and extend period of washing if
hands are heavily soiled.
10. Pat dry the hands thoroughly moving from
fingers to wrist and forearms (if applicable) without
rubbing the paper towel or single-use cloth/towel.
11. Discard paper towel in proper receptacles.
• If cloth towel is used, dry one hand
thoroughly in rotating motion from the
fingers to wrist (or elbow if applicable) using
other end towel and dry the other hand and
arm with other half of the towel.
12. Turn off water as per the type of the faucet
control.
• To turn off hand faucet, use clean, dry paper
towel.
• Avoid touching handles with hands.
• Rinsing the bar soap removes
microorganism.
• Length of time for hand washing is
determined by degree of contamination.
• Friction and rubbing mechanically loosen
and removes dirt, transient bacteria and or
microorganisms.
• Interlacing the fingers and thumbs clean
the interdigital spaces and ensures that all
surfaces are cleaned.
• Rational or circular action helps remove
microorganism mechanically.
• The nails and fingertips are commonly
missed during hard hygiene
• Rinsing the hands under running water
mechanically washes away dirt and
microorganism.
• The water should flow from the least
contaminated to the most contaminated
area.
• Drying from cleanest (fingertips) to least
clean area (forearms) avoids
contamination. Drying hands prevent
chapping and roughened skin.
• Moist skin becomes chapped readily as it
dry skin that is rubbed vigorously;
chapping produces lesions.
• Prevent transfer of microorganism.
• Clean, dry towel prevents the transfer of
microorganism from one hand to the other.
• Placing a barrier between the fingers and
the hand-controlled faucet prevents the
transmission of microorganism to the clean
hands.
Documentation
• Document proper hand washing as it pertains to specific patient care
Evaluation
• Infection is prevented from spreading.
• Cross contamination is prevented.
• Nurse is protected from infection.

References:
Lynn, Pamela (2011). Taylor’s Clinic Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach 3rd Edition.
Wolkers Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Nurses’ Guide to Clinical Procedures 6th Edition, 2010. Jean Smith-Temple, Joyce Young
Johnson
Nurse’s Quick Check – Skills. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Prepared by: Prof. Maria Andrea L. Endeno – 2nd Semester 2017-2018

Modified/Updated & Revised by: Dr. Jennifer P. Reyes and Prof. Aris S. Santos – 2nd
Semester 2020-2021