All healthcare workers are required to wash, rinse, and dry their hands or apply an alcohol hand rub before beginning work, after using the rest room and prior to leaving work.
Hands that are grossly contaminated must be washed with antimicrobial soap prior to hand disinfection with an alcohol hand rub.
Gloves & Hand Hygiene
- Gloves do not replace the need for hand hygiene.
- They may have small non-apparent defects.
- May be torn during use.
- Hands can become contaminated in the process of removing gloves.
- Gloves are only required while actively touching a patient (not during transport).
Fingernails
- HCWs must maintain fingernails so that their natural nail tips should not extend past the ends of their fingers.
- Artificial nail enhancements are not to be worn. This includes, but is not limited to, artificial nails, tips, wraps, appliques, acrylics, gel, shellac, glue, and any additional items applied to the nail surface.
- Nail polish is permitted, but anything applied to natural nails other than polish is considered an enhancement. Chipped nail polish supports the growth of organisms on fingernails and is strictly prohibited.
- Individual departments can institute measures, in addition to those above, to comply with established standards of care in specialty areas.
Lotion
- An individual may use a lotion to ease the dryness resulting from frequent hand hygiene and which may also prevent dermatitis resulting from glove use.
- Hand lotion can become contaminated with pathogenic organisms and should not be shared with others.
- Employees may have their own lotion but are required to keep their own bottle of lotion in a location where no one else can use it (e.g., locker or pocket). The lotion container must be labeled with the employee’s name.
- The lotion may not be used on patients.