Which sequence demonstrates proper hand hygiene before resident care?

• A. Turn on faucet, wet hands, apply soap, rub for 15 seconds, rinse, dry with clean towel
• B. Put on gloves first, then wash hands
• C. Rinse hands with hot water for 10 seconds
• D. Dry hands on clothing after washing

Answer: (A)

Proper hand hygiene before resident care aims to remove microbes from the hands and prevent transmission. The correct sequence starts with turning on a clean faucet, wetting the hands, applying soap, and rubbing for about 15 seconds to create a thorough lather that cleans all surfaces, then rinsing off the soap under running water and drying the hands with a clean disposable towel. This approach reduces the risk of transferring germs to the resident or the environment, and drying with a clean towel helps prevent recontamination.

Putting gloves on before washing is not appropriate because hands should be clean before donning gloves. Rinsing with hot water for a short time is insufficient, and the temperature of the water is less important than thorough scrubbing and proper duration. Drying on clothing is not acceptable since it can reintroduce contaminants.