Proper handwashing is the single most effective method to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. Every day, medical professionals encounter pathogens that can be transferred between patients, surfaces, and even themselves. By rigorously adhering to hand hygiene protocols—especially before and after patient contact—healthcare workers dramatically reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure safer outcomes. This is why mastering the technique demonstrated in this video is essential for all CNAs and clinical staff.

• Turn on water faucet.
• Begin by running warm water at a comfortable level and thoroughly wet your hands.
• Apply soap to your hands.
• Use friction to lather your hands in soap for AT LEAST 20 seconds.
• Ensure you are applying friction to:
  • Finger tips
  • Cuticles (around Nails) 
  • Under Nails
  • Palms
  • In between fingers and thumb
  • Wrists
  • The back and front of hands
• Rinse hands in warm water, careful not to touch inside of the sink or the faucet.
• After rinsing your hands, tap your fingers together lightly inside the sink to shake loose excess water.
  • Confines water to the sink, not the floor, creating a hazard.
• Dry your hands thoroughly with paper towels.
  • Be careful not to touch the unwashed portions of your arms. 
• Dispose of paper towels.
• Do not touch faucet after you have washed your hands, as the faucet is considered “dirty”. 
• Using a paper towel, turn the faucet off.
• Dispose of paper towel.
• Think about the steps of your Skill. Make any corrections, and tell your Evaluator that your Skill is complete. 

• Applying soap to dry hands.
• Not applying friction to all areas of your hands.
• Not applying at LEAST 20 seconds of friction to your hands.
• Not applying enough soap to hands.
• Not using paper towel to turn off water faucet.
• Touching faucet or inside of the sink with clean hands.
• Touching unwashed portions of arms with clean hands.