Course Overview

Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of infection prevention in healthcare. It’s the simplest, most cost-effective intervention available—yet compliance remains stubbornly low. Studies show healthcare workers perform hand hygiene less than half the times they should. This failure has deadly consequences. Healthcare-associated infections affect millions of patients annually, causing extended hospital stays, increased costs, antibiotic resistance, and preventable deaths. Many of these infections spread directly through healthcare workers’ contaminated hands.

The problem isn’t that healthcare workers don’t care—it’s that they don’t always understand when hand hygiene is needed, which method to use in different situations, or how to perform hand hygiene effectively. Staff may rush through handwashing, miss critical steps, use the wrong product, or simply forget during busy workflows. Meanwhile, pathogens like MRSA, C. difficile, norovirus, and respiratory viruses transfer from surface to hand to patient with frightening efficiency.

This essential training course provides healthcare workers with evidence-based hand hygiene practices that save lives. Employees learn why hand hygiene is the most critical infection control measure, when to perform hand hygiene using the WHO “5 Moments” framework, proper technique for both handwashing with soap and water and alcohol-based hand rub application, how to select the appropriate method based on the situation, and strategies for improving compliance and protecting both patients and themselves. The goal is transforming hand hygiene from an afterthought into an automatic, correctly performed action at every critical moment.

Build a Safer, More Compliant Workplace

What You’ll Learn

Upon completing this course, your employees will be able to:

✓ Explain the critical role of hand hygiene in preventing healthcare-associated infections and pathogen transmission

✓ Identify the “5 Moments for Hand Hygiene” when hand hygiene must be performed in healthcare settings

✓ Demonstrate proper handwashing technique with soap and water using all required steps and adequate duration

✓ Apply alcohol-based hand rub correctly using proper amount, technique, and duration for effective antisepsis

✓ Differentiate when to use soap and water vs. alcohol-based hand rub based on type of contamination and clinical situation

✓ Address barriers to compliance including time constraints, skin irritation, and access to supplies

✓ Understand special considerations for jewelry, artificial nails, glove use, and hand care

Course Content

Lesson 1: Introduction and Objectives

Hand hygiene as the foundation of infection prevention, impact of healthcare-associated infections, and compliance challenges

Lesson 2: Background

How pathogens spread via hands (transient vs. resident flora), historical context of hand hygiene, evidence base from Semmelweis to modern studies, and guidelines from CDC, WHO, and Joint Commission

Lesson 3: Indications

WHO “5 Moments for Hand Hygiene”: (1) before patient contact, (2) before aseptic/clean procedures, (3) after body fluid exposure risk, (4) after patient contact, (5) after contact with patient surroundings, additional indications (before donning gloves, after removing gloves, before eating, after restroom use)

Lesson 4: Selection of Agents

Alcohol-based hand rubs (primary method for most situations), soap and water (required for visible soiling, C. difficile, norovirus), antibacterial soap (specific clinical situations), selecting products (efficacy, skin tolerance, availability), when each method is appropriate

Lesson 5: Techniques

Handwashing with soap and water: wet hands, apply soap, lather all surfaces for minimum 20 seconds (front, back, between fingers, under nails), rinse thoroughly, dry with disposable towel, turn off faucet with towel; alcohol-based hand rub: apply manufacturer-recommended amount, rub all surfaces until hands are completely dry (15-30 seconds), never rinse off; common technique errors to avoid

Lesson 6: Special Considerations

Jewelry and watches (remove or minimize), artificial nails and extenders (prohibited in patient care), nail polish (chipped polish harbors bacteria), glove use (doesn’t replace hand hygiene), hand care and moisturizers (prevent skin breakdown), accessibility of supplies, time management strategies, and monitoring compliance

Who This Course Is For

👨‍⚕️ All Clinical Healthcare Workers

Nurses, physicians, therapists, and any staff providing direct patient care

🧪 Laboratory & Diagnostic Staff

Personnel handling specimens, performing tests, or working in clinical laboratories

🧹 Environmental Services

Housekeeping staff who clean patient care areas and handle contaminated materials

🍽️ Food Service Workers

Staff preparing or delivering food in healthcare facilities

🔧 Facilities & Maintenance

Personnel entering patient care areas for repairs, maintenance, or inspections

👥 All Healthcare Employees

Anyone who works in healthcare facilities and may have patient contact or touch contaminated surfaces

Certificate & Compliance

Upon successful completion, learners receive an official certificate of completion documenting their hand hygiene training for infection control compliance records and healthcare facility quality programs.

The course includes assessments that verify understanding of the 5 Moments, proper technique for both methods, and appropriate agent selection. Certificates are generated immediately and can be downloaded or printed for employee files.

Supports Compliance With:

  • CDC Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
  • WHO Hand Hygiene Guidelines
  • Joint Commission infection prevention standards
  • CMS Conditions of Participation requirements
  • State health department infection control regulations
  • Healthcare facility accreditation requirements

Choose How Your Team Learns

🖥️ Use Our LMS

Immediate access with zero setup

  • Fast & Easy Setup

  • Automatic progress tracking and reporting

  • Built-in certificate generation

  • No technical expertise required

  • Automated Course Recertification

📦 Use Your Own LMS

Purchase SCORM files for your system

  • Integrate with your existing platform

  • Maintain centralized training records

  • Compatible with all major LMS platforms

  • Full technical specifications provided

  • Dedicated support included

Why Choose Evolve?

🎯

Expert-Developed Content

Courses feature realistic scenarios, engaging multimedia, and knowledge checks to reinforce learning. Content developed by compliance experts ensures accuracy and relevance.

📱

Accessible Anywhere

Complete training anytime, anywhere on PCs, tablets, or smartphones. Your team can learn at their own pace without disrupting daily operations or scheduling conflicts.

🎬

Engaging & Effective

Scenario-based learning & interactive elements promote retention better than lecture-style courses

📊

Trackable and Reportable

Monitor completion rates, track progress, and generate compliance reports. Maintain detailed records for audits and regulatory requirements.

💰

Transparent Pricing

Simple per-seat pricing with no hidden fees, surprise charges, or mandatory bundles. Volume discounts make compliance training affordable for organizations of any size.

⚡

Easy Implementation

Begin training your team immediately – no lengthy implementation or waiting periods

📈

Scalable Solutions

Whether training 5 employees or 500, our platform scales to meet your organization’s needs. Custom course bundles available to address your specific training requirements and budget.

✓

Consistent Quality Training

Every learner receives the same high-quality, up-to-date content. Standardized training ensures your entire organization maintains consistent compliance knowledge.

💬

Ongoing Support

Dedicated customer support available to assist with questions, technical issues, or training customization needs.

Find The Courses You Need

Related Courses

Complete your training and build a culture of compliance

Your Content Goes Here

Find The Courses You Need

Active Shooter Response

Backcare / Ergonomics

Biohazardous Waste Handling, Storage, & Disposal

Bloodborne Pathogens for Healthcare Workers

Build a Safer, More Compliant Workplace

The Simplest, Most Effective Infection Prevention Measure

Hand hygiene prevents more infections than any other intervention in healthcare. Give your staff the knowledge to perform hand hygiene correctly at every critical moment and protect the patients and colleagues who depend on them.

Trusted by hospitals, clinics, surgical centers, and long-term care facilities committed to infection prevention