SKILLS LABORATORY CHECKLIST
Fundamentals of Nursing Practice
Name Date
Course & Sec RLE Group
HAND WASHING
Correctly Incorrectl Not
Preparation Remarks
Done y Done Done
1. Determine:
Presence of factors increasing
susceptibility to infection and possibility
of undiagnosed infection.
Whether the client uses
immunosuppressive medications.
Recent diagnostic procedures or
treatments that the penetrated the skin
or a body cavity.
Current nutritional status.
Signs and symptoms indicating the
presence of an infection:
Localized signs – swelling; redness; pain
or tenderness with palpation or
movement; palpable heat at site; loss of
function of affected body part; or
presence of exudates.
Systemic indications – fever; increased
pulse and respiratory rates; lack of
energy, anorexia; or enlarged lymph
nodes.
2. Determine:
The location of running water and soap or
soap substitutes.
3. Assemble equipment:
Soap
Warm, running water
Disposable or sanitized towel
4. Assess the hands.
Nails should be kept short.
Remove all jewelry.
Check the hands for breaks in the skin,
such as hangnails or cuts.
Procedure
1. If you are washing your hands where the
client can observe you, explain to the client
what you are going to do why it is
necessary.
2. Turn on the water, and adjust the flow.
There are five common types of faucet
controls:
Hand-operated handles
Move knee levers with the knee to
regulate flow and temperature.
Press foot pedals with the foot to
regulate flow and temperature.
Move elbow controls with the elbows
instead of the hands.
For infrared control, motion in front of the
sensor causes water to start and stop
flowing automatically.
Be sure to adjust flow so that water is
warm.
3. Wet the hands thoroughly by holding
them under the running water, and
apply soap to hands.
Hold the hands lower that the elbows so
that the water flows from the arms to the
fingertips.
If the soap is liquid, apply 2-4 mL (1 tsp.) If
it is bar soap, granules, or sheets, rub them
firmly between the hands.
4. Thoroughly wash and rinse the hands.
Use firm, rubbing, and circular movements
to wash the palm, back, and wrist of each
hand. Interlace the fingers and thumbs, and
move the hands back and forth. Continue
this motion for at least 15 seconds.
Rub the fingertips against the pal of the
opposite hand.
Rinse the hands.
5. Thoroughly dry the hands and arms.
Dry hands and arms thoroughly with a
paper towel.
Discard the paper towel in the appropriate
container.
6. Turn off the water.
Use a new paper towel to grasp a hand-
operated control.
Grade:
Rating Scale:
Excellent : 96-100 Good : 80-84
Very Satisfactory : 90-95 Fair : 75-79
Very Good : 85-89 Poor : 74 & below
Clinical Instructor
Signature over Printed Name
