Patient Safety Sentinel: Proper Procedure for Hand Washing

The CDC encourages the use of alcohol hand sanitizer for routine hand hygiene in healthcare settings, however there are times when soap & water should be used:

  • When hands are visibly soiled
  • For known or suspect C diff or Norovirus

Lathering of soap and water MUST be a minimum of 15-20 secs and the following steps MUST be followed for proper hand washing per CDC Guidelines : 

  • Wet hands with clean running water.

Wet hands with clean running water.

  • Apply enough soap to cover hand surfaces.

  • Rub hands palm to palm.

  • Right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa.

  • Palm to palm with finger interlaced.

  • Back of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.

  • Rotational rubbing of the left thumb clasped in the right palm and vice versa.

  • Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa.

  • Rinse hands thoroughly under stream of water.

  • Dry hands thoroughly with paper towel to avoid recontamination of hands.

  • Use towel to turn off faucet.


Protecting our patients is the top priority at Cooper University Health Care. We need 100 percent compliance with all patient safety procedures.

A sentinel is one who stands guard or watch to protect others. We need all employees to be sentinels to protect our patients and keep watch to ensure all patient safety procedures are being strictly followed.

One Team. One Purpose.