National Handwashing Awareness Week, celebrated annually from December 1-7, provides a critical reminder to all nurses about the importance of proper hand hygiene practices. This timeprovides a unique opportunity for all Texas nurses to be reconnected with this foundational skill, one thatremains one of the most important skills nurses must master at the start of their career, and maintain indefinitely, to ensure patient safety. This practice tip serves as your reminder to not take handwashing for granted, despite the challenges we’ve faced in our workplaces with compliance as well as adherence.
While hand hygiene was often one of the first skills learned, practiced, and tested in nursing school, it remains an ongoing competency for all. In fact, some nurses are required to complete annual competency for hand hygiene practices and infection prevention implementation such as correct demonstration of “foaming in and out.” In conversations with students and other healthcare workers, the musical variations for
making sure they wash for at least 20 seconds, 30 seconds or 60 seconds were vast. In consultation with ChatGPT, here is a list of melodies you can hum or sing to ensure the appropriate length of time for washing:
"Happy Birthday" – Sing it twice through. This classic tune is often used for handwashing timing.
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" – Sing one full verse.
"Row, Row, Row Your Boat" – Sing it twice.
"If You're Happy and You Know It" – Sing the chorus twice.
"ABCs" (The Alphabet Song) – The standard melody of the alphabet song takes about 20 seconds to complete.
"Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees – Hum or sing the chorus for handwashing.
"Jingle Bells" – Sing the first verse and chorus.
"This Land Is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie – Sing the chorus once.
"Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X – Sing the chorus once.
"Let It Go" from Frozen – Sing a portion of the chorus.
"Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift – Use a chorus portion for timing.
"Truth Hurts" by Lizzo – Sing the opening verse or chorus.
Other shared experiences for nurses include the challenges with access to handwashing stations or hand sanitizer. While newer facilities have these considered in the design, there are many older facilities and buildings where nurses have to walk down the hall to the nurse’s station for access to a sink. Alternatively, many could relate to activating the hand sanitizer sensor and being sprayed with cleanser all up and down their scrubs.
Despite the many moments of handwashing mishaps, there are still practical tips we can all use. The truth is that handwashing remains the number one way to prevent infection and spread of most illnesses (CDC, 2024 & WHO, 2024). Be intentional this week to spread awareness and education about proper hand hygiene and share with us in the comments below about your best
hand hygiene stories.
References
Burton, M., Cobb, E., Donachie, P., Judah, G., Curtis, V., & Schmidt, W. P. (2011). The effect of handwashing with water or soap on bacterial contamination of hands. International journal of environmental research and public health, 8(1), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8010097
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