When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?

The Significance of Hand Washing for Nurses & How to Do It Properly

Amongst all occupations, those in healthcare settings are the ones where effective hand hygiene is most important. People working in the healthcare industry have a particular responsibility to minimise the spread of infections and viruses. They’re at the frontlines so to speak, facing these harmful elements day after day and most likely coming into contact with them with their hands. This is why it is immensely important that they practice good hand hygiene.

When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?


The purpose of handwashing in nursing environments

Infections and illnesses can be transmitted rapidly through poor hand hygiene, and nurses are particularly susceptible because of their exposure to sick patients. Not only can they themselves be susceptible to illness, they could also be transmitters when they touch affected patients or objects and then happen to pass on infections and viruses to other patients, visitors or other staff members. This is why the management and minimisation of health care-associated infections is incredibly important. It is also vital to minimise the risk of dreaded antibacterial resistance and ‘super bugs’ that defy treatment.


Are there different types of handwashing in nursing?

There are two effective hand hygiene techniques within healthcare settings. Nurses can use a hand rub with hand sanitiser if their hands appear clean, and must carry out a hand wash using soap and water when hands are visibly soiled. Hand Hygiene Australia recommends thorough hand washing procedures at five critical moments of the patient care experience. These are:

  1. Before touching a patient
  2. Before a procedure
  1. After touching a patient
  2. After a procedure or a body fluid exposure risk and
  3. After touching a patient’s surroundings.


The proper hand washing procedure for nurses

In case you need a refresher, here are the correct handwashing steps for medical staff via Hand Hygiene Australia:


Handwashing using water and soap should take around 40-60 seconds.

  1. Once your hands are wet, apply soap to cover all of your hands’ surfaces.
  2. Rub hands palm to palm.
  3. Rub your right palm up and down the back of the other with interlaced fingers, and vice versa.
  4. Rub palm to palm with your fingers interlaced.
  5. Rub the backs of your fingers to opposing palms with fingers bent and interlocked.
  6. Rub your left thumb clasped in your right palm, and vice versa.
  7. Rub your clasped fingers in a backwards, forwards and rotational direction in the other hand.
  8. Rinse hands thoroughly with water.
  9. Dry hands thoroughly with a single use towel.
  10. Use the towel to turn off the faucet.
  11. Once dry, your hands are clean.

When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?


A hand rub using hand sanitiser should take around 20-30 seconds.

  1. Apply a palmful of hand sanitiser and cover all surfaces of your hands.
  2. Rub hands palm to palm.
  3. Rub your right palm up and down the back of the other with interlaced fingers, and vice versa.
  4. Rub palm to palm with your fingers interlaced.
  5. Rub the backs of your fingers to opposing palms with fingers bent and interlocked.
  6. Rub your left thumb clasped in your right palm and vice versa.
  7. Rub your clasped fingers in a backwards, forwards and rotational direction in the other hand.
  8. Once dry, your hands are clean.

Hand soap dispensers, hand sanitiser dispensers, hand dryers and paper towel dispensers placed at strategic points throughout the medical facility are invaluable in reducing illness and infection being spread between patients, visitors and staff. Contact us today to find the right products for your healthcare facility.

Washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning and flu.

Video: How to wash your hands

Watch this video to find out the best way to wash your hands.

Media last reviewed: 30 March 2020
Media review due: 30 March 2023

You should wash your hands for the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice (around 20 seconds):

When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
1. Wet your hands with water.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
2. Apply enough soap to cover your hands.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
3. Rub your hands together.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
4. Use 1 hand to rub the back of the other hand and clean in between the fingers. Do the same with the other hand.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
5. Rub your hands together and clean in between your fingers.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
6. Rub the back of your fingers against your palms.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
7. Rub your thumb using your other hand. Do the same with the other thumb.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
8. Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of your other hand. Do the same with other hand.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
9. Rinse your hands with water.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
10. Dry your hands completely with a disposable towel.
When washing hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow?
11. Use the disposable towel to turn off the tap.

If you do not have immediate access to soap and water then use alcohol-based handrub if available.

When should you wash your hands?

You should wash your hands:

  • after using the toilet or changing a nappy
  • before and after handling raw foods like meat and vegetables
  • before eating or handling food
  • after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing
  • before and after treating a cut or wound
  • after touching animals, including pets, their food and after cleaning their cages

Washing your hands properly removes dirt, viruses and bacteria to stop them spreading to other people and objects, which can spread illnesses such as food poisoning, flu or diarrhoea.

It can help stop people picking up infections and spreading them to others.

It can also help stop spreading infections when you're visiting someone in hospital or another healthcare setting.

Page last reviewed: 18 October 2019
Next review due: 18 October 2022

When washing the hands with soap and water which procedure should the nurse follow quizlet?

1)Turn on the faucet and adjust the force and temperature of the water. 2)Wet the hands and wrists. 3)Apply soap. 4)Wash the palms and backs of the hands for at least 20 seconds.

When using soap and water to perform hand hygiene how much soap should the nursing assistant use?

Put soap on your hands and wrists. This should be about 1 teaspoon, which is equal to 5 milliliters of soap. Most soap dispensers in the hospital are automative and will properly dispense the amount of soap you need to perform hand hygiene. Lather the hands and wrists with the soap.

When using soap and water to perform hand hygiene how much soap should the nursing assistant use quizlet?

Typically how much liquid soap should be applied for hand washing? 3-5 mL of liquid soap.

What is the correct procedure to wash hands?

Wet your hands with water..
Apply enough soap to cover your hands..
Rub your hands together..
Use 1 hand to rub the back of the other hand and clean in between the fingers. ... .
Rub your hands together and clean in between your fingers..
Rub the back of your fingers against your palms..
Rub your thumb using your other hand..