For you, our Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs), who are at the frontline of looking after members of the public there is a necessity to stay healthy and well. It goes without saying that even with precautions, our frontline staff are exposed to illnesses while caring for others and with the outbreak of Covid-19, it is even more important that you take essential steps to protect yourself while being in a position to educate and care for others. At the forefront of preventing the spread of the virus is a step that all health professionals know and every person can incorporate into their everyday: Hand washing for a CNA. 

Here is a step-by-step video guide on how to wash hands as a Nursing Assistant. Not only is it important for your daily safety in hospitals and nursing homes, but you will also be tested on the specific skill of Hand Washing on the CNA Certification Exam. For more information, read about your state’s CNA requirements.

The practice of hand hygiene for a CNA is so important in preventative healthcare that on a normal work day, healthcare professionals wash their hands about 100 times per shift. In the United States there are currently 1.5 million Certified Nursing Assistants caring for patients everywhere from nursing homes and schools through to hospitals and defense services. As nurses make up nearly 50% of global healthcare workers according to the World Health Organization, you play an essential role in educating patients and informing those around you. Here are 3 points on how to wash hands as a CNA that can help you in your work to knowledgeably support, promote and encourage hand washing wherever you are.

1. Hand hygiene is recognized globally as the most effective measure a Nurse Aide can take to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections.

Many preventable illnesses can be mitigated through responsible and consistent health habits for social and community healthcare so it makes sense that hand washing is top of the list. You can remind those around you outside of the medical community that every time they touch their face without washing their hands they risk transferring infection into their respiratory system. This is why many hospitals and medical practices have hand sanitizer stations at their entrances and counters or why kids in schools are encouraged now to cough into their elbow -- your hands can be carriers of illness without you realizing it. 

2. A UNICEF/WHO survey acknowledged that 35% of healthcare facilities did not have soap and water for hand washing.

Despite the importance of hand washing in stopping the preventable spread of many contagious illnesses, a 2019 report showed that 1 in 4 global health facilities didn’t have sufficient water quantities for health services that were safe, sanitary and health-promoting. As you know, both local and global health relies on washing, sanitation, hygiene and waste health care services. Hand washing is not only the baseline for the health of people of all ages, in fact, the Global Handwashing Partnership elaborates on this with the statement under the heading, ‘Why Hand wash?’ that, “Hand washing with soap impacts not just health and nutrition, but also education, economics, and equity”. Bottom line: hand washing empowers both individuals and communities. If you need another reason to encourage the value of hand washing, this holistic statement is an inarguable explainer.

3. WHO found that on average, 61% of healthcare workers—in some facilities up to 90%—do not adhere to best hand washing practices, even when supplies are available.

This statistic is startling when you read it, especially with the prevalence of hand sanitizers in most medical settings yet with critical reflection, it’s understandable. A positive culture around sanitation and hygiene starts with a supportive environment for you to have resources like time, a sustainable work volume and strong senior leadership who model safe health practices. How can you support this? One tip from Dr. Arjan Srinivasan from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to use a prompt -- he says he wears a blue button to work (including hospitals) that says, “Ask me if I’ve washed my hands”. He goes on to say that if a patient or colleague asks, he then washes his hands in front of them. He also says that hand sanitizer is a great option to combat access to a wash facility. An extra handy tip from the NHS that you can share with patients, colleagues and loved ones is that you should wash your hands for the length of time it takes you to sing Happy Birthday -- twice! Why not smile while you scrub your hands?!

Author Bio

David Smith is the owner of Cleaning Services Group, a company which provides a diverse range of industrial and commercial cleaning services to a wide client base across the UK.

As an additional resource, this infographic from The Cleaning Service Group is a guide that you can have on hand at work, share with your friends and family, or even use as part of your own practical kit for your patients. Not only are the points above summarized, the infographic also has current statistics and facts plus a visual guide to washing your hands for the recommended 20 seconds with diagrams to illustrate exactly what to do to effectively clean hands.