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Proper Hand Washing

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Hand Washing
Cristina Mesa
Nova Southeastern University

Hand Washing
Proper hand washing is the first line in defense against spreading bacteria and infections. Most individuals don’t understand the importance of simply washing their hands. The spread of countless diseases and infections could be avoided by engaging in a little more awareness. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of hand washing, how hand washing can improve patient care, and to discuss how hand washing can be incorporated into patient education.
Importance of Hand Washing
Good hand washing habits are essential in any setting, not just bathrooms. It is necessary to wash a persons hands after using the restroom, after any outdoor activity, after any contact with another person, before and after eating, and especially after touching or petting any animal. The more an individual practices the importance of hand washing the better. It is sad how many people believe that hand washing is unimportant and needless. According Borchgrevink, Cha, and Kim (2013), hand washing is the most effective thing one can do to reduce the spread of infectious diseases .
Patient Care Improvement With Hand Washing
In hospitals, hand washing is even more important due to the abundant amount of bacteria and infection under one building. Nurses must follow proper hand washing techniques in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases to their patients. When a patient is in the hospital, their immune system is down and consequently more susceptible to infection. Mitka (2009), states that, although most of us would think it would be a no brainer for health care professionals to practice optimal hand hygiene, a variety of factors work against this. Some reasons behind this is the awkwardness of washing hands while carrying objects, and the huge misperception that wearing gloves eliminates

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