PICNet - Provincial Hand Hygiene Basics

“Hand Hygiene is Everyone’s Responsibility”

This multi-BC health authority online training course was developed by PICNet in collaboration with the Provincial Hand Hygiene Task Group under the Provincial Hand Hygiene Working Group. This course is intended for all health care workers, students, volunteers, contractors, and vendors working within health care facilities.

In this course, you will learn about the role that hand hygiene plays in preventing health care-associated infections, and when and how to properly clean your hands to prevent microorganisms from spreading.

Course Topics
• The role of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of microorganisms
• Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) and soap and water: indications and techniques
• The moments for hand hygiene
• The patient environment and health care environment
• Applying hand hygiene principles in different care settings
• Factors that impair effective hand hygiene
• Hand hygiene in relation to glove use
• Practices that support hand skin integrity and effective hand hygiene

Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
• Explain the role of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of microorganisms in health care settings.
• Demonstrate appropriate hand hygiene practices, including selecting the correct method and performing the correct technique.
• Apply the Moments for Hand Hygiene and Patient Environment concepts within their care setting.
• Apply practices that optimize hand hygiene effectiveness, including maintaining hand skin integrity, addressing factors that impair effective hand hygiene, and performing hand hygiene appropriately in relation to glove use.

Note: In this course, the word “patient” refers to all patients, residents or clients.