Lesson 6: Handwashing and Gloving Transcript Title Slide Welcome Hello. My name is Barbara Breen, Training Coordinator for the DPW Medication Administration Program. I will be your narrator for this webcast. Lesson Objectives At the end of this lesson, you will be able to: Explain the concept of clean versus dirty. Describe why standard precautions are needed in medication administration. List the steps for proper handwashing. State the steps for putting on and removing gloves correctly. Medication Cycle In order to properly administer medication, one first needs to be able to successfully perform the skills of handwashing and gloving. Standard Precautions I m going to ask you four questions. After each one, I will pause for you to think about your own response to the question. Why did your mother teach you to cover your mouth when you cough? Why do you wash your hands after you go to the bathroom? Why don t you share toothbrushes? Why do you throw dirty tissues away? 1
Some of the things you might of thought about in response to the questions are: Body fluids are assumed to be dirty or have germs. Germs are spread or passed through coughing and body fluids. Handwashing takes the body fluids off your hands and therefore doesn t allow the body fluids or germs to go from one surface or person to another. Properly washed hands are assumed to be clean or don t have germs. Use of gloves or barriers can also prevent the spread of germs. These should be disposed of as they are also dirty after use and contact with them can spread germs. The practice of preventing diseases that are spread by contact with body fluids is called Standard Precautions. In the past, it was referred to as Universal Precautions because the assumption is that everyone should use them and that everyone could pass disease. Because you can t see germs, you don t know who has them and who doesn t. Thus, it is important to use standard precautions. Take a moment and test your knowledge about whether or not you would wash your hands in each situation listed on the slide. When you are finished with each slide, click Continue. Handwashing - Introduction It is time to learn how to wash your hands properly. If you do not have a sink where you are giving medication, then you may use antiseptic hand cleaner or wipes to clean your hands. Keep in mind that if antiseptic hand cleaners or wipes are used, they can only be used so many times before you must wash your hands with soap and water. Handwashing - Demonstration There are seven steps to handwashing. Let s review each one. 1. Turn on the water and adjust it to a comfortable temperature. Wet your hands and wrists. 2. Put soap on your hands. 3. Rub your hands together for about 10 to 15 seconds making a lather. Be sure to wash in between your fingers. To help yourself take enough time, sing a verse of your favorite children s song such as Row-Row-Row Your Boat or Yankee Doodle. 4. Rinse your hands. 5. Dry your hands on a clean towel. 6. Turn off the faucets using the towel. 7. Throw away the towel unless you are using cloth towels. Let s now observe the seven handwashing steps in action. (Video plays) 2
Handwashing - Observation Now let s test your observation skills. Watch each video and select the one that shows handwashing completed correctly. Click Continue when you are finished. In order to be certified to administer medications, you will need to demonstrate to a trainer that you can properly perform the skill of handwashing. The Handwashing and Gloving Skill Checklist will be used to determine if you wash your hands correctly. Click on the button on the screen to download the Handwashing and Gloving Skill Checklist. You will need it while viewing the next video. Click Continue once you have downloaded the Handwashing and Gloving Skill Checklist. Observe the person in the video complete the handwashing steps. Indicate on skill the checklist for handwashing whether the person correctly completes each step. Gloving - Introduction Let s now talk about the use of gloves. Gloves are used in many situations. If you are applying a cream or ointment to the skin or a wound, you will use gloves. You should use gloves when assisting with toileting activities or at other times when you might come into contact with body fluids. Gloving - Demonstration There are two parts to using gloves, putting them on and taking them off. To put gloves on, you would first wash your hands. You would then put the gloves on covering your hands and wrists. 3
The steps involved with taking gloves off include: Take your gloved right hand and grasp the glove on the left hand at the outside of the glove. Turn the glove inside out as you pull it down over your left hand to keep the body fluids on the glove away from your hand. Hold the removed glove in your right hand. Pull the right glove over your right hand using your left hand on the inside of the glove. Pull the right glove off leaving the left glove inside. Do not separate the gloves. Throw gloves away in the trash. Do not reuse the gloves. Wash your hands. Gloving - Observation Now let s test your observation skills. Watch each video and select the one that shows the skill completed correctly. Click Continue when you are finished. In order to be certified to administer medications, you will need to demonstrate to a trainer that you can properly perform the skill of gloving. The Handwashing and Gloving Skill Checklist will be used to determine if you can put gloves on and remove them correctly. If you need another copy of the Handwashing and Gloving Skill Checklist, click on the button on the screen to download it. You will need it while viewing the next two videos. Click Continue when you are ready to go to the next slide. Observe the person in the video putting on gloves. Indicate on the skill checklist for gloving whether the person correctly completes each step. 4
Observe the person in the video taking off gloves. Indicate on the skill checklist for gloving whether the person correctly completes each step. Summary The key points we covered in this lesson about handwashing and gloving are: Standard precautions are important to prevent the spread of disease. Proper handwashing is one way to prevent disease. Gloves are also used to prevent the spread of disease. Now that you have completed the lesson, it is time to take the quiz. Return to where you launched this lesson to take the quiz. You may need to refresh the screen for the quiz to become available. 5