Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Prometric Practice Exam

What is necessary to prevent contamination of the nurse's hands during the hand washing procedure?

1. Using soap and water

2. Turning off the faucet with a paper towel

3. Rinsing hands thoroughly

4. Wiping hands with alcohol

The correct answer is: Turning off the faucet with a paper towel

Turning off the faucet with a paper towel is a crucial step in preventing contamination of the nurse's hands during the handwashing procedure. After thoroughly washing and rinsing hands, it is essential to avoid touching any potentially contaminated surfaces, including the faucet handles. By using a paper towel to turn off the faucet, the nurse minimizes the risk of recontaminating their hands after they have been cleaned. This practice follows the principles of infection control by ensuring that the hands remain free of pathogens after handwashing. While using soap and water is fundamental to the handwashing process, and rinsing hands thoroughly removes soap and bacteria, these steps do not by themselves address the risk of touching the faucet at the end of the procedure. Additionally, while wiping hands with alcohol can effectively reduce germs on the hands, it is not a substitute for thorough handwashing with soap and water. Therefore, turning off the faucet with a paper towel is a vital part of maintaining hand hygiene and preventing contamination.