A nurse is preparing to obtain a client’s vital signs. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when washing their hands?
A.
Rinse their forearms with running water before applying soap.
B.
Hold their hands above elbow level while washing and rinsing.
C.
Generate a lather by rubbing their hands together vigorously for 5 seconds.
D.
Turn off the faucet with a clean paper towel after drying hands.
The correct answer is:
D. Turn off the faucet with a clean paper towel after drying hands.
Explanation: After washing and drying the hands, the nurse should use a clean paper towel to turn off the faucet. This prevents recontamination of the hands by touching the faucet, which may have been contaminated before handwashing.
The other options are incorrect:
- A. Rinse their forearms with running water before applying soap: This is not a standard step in handwashing. The correct procedure is to wet the hands with running water before applying soap.
- B. Hold their hands above elbow level while washing and rinsing: Hands should be held below the elbows while washing and rinsing to allow water to flow downward and carry away any contaminants.
- C. Generate a lather by rubbing their hands together vigorously for 5 seconds: The nurse should lather and scrub their hands for at least 20 seconds to ensure thorough cleaning.