CNA Certification (Written Exam)Infection Control and SafetyEasy
A nurse aide is about to help a resident with morning care. According to standard precautions, when should the aide perform hand hygiene?
- AOnce at the beginning of the shift is sufficient
- BOnly after removing gloves at the end of care
- COnly if the resident has a known infection
- DBefore and after resident contact, and after glove removal
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Before and after resident contact, and after glove removal
Standard precautions require hand hygiene before and after every resident contact, and after removing gloves, regardless of the resident's diagnosis. This prevents the spread of microorganisms to other residents and surfaces.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Hand hygiene must occur frequently throughout the shift, not just once.
- B. Hand hygiene is needed before contact too, not just after gloves come off.
- C. Standard precautions apply to all residents, not just those with known infections.
Standard Precautions Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with every resident, and after glove removal, as part of standard precautions.
- Applies to ALL residents regardless of diagnosis
- Before contact, after contact, and after gloves
- Reduces cross-contamination between residents
Memory trick: Before you touch, after you touch, after gloves you clutch