A nurse in public clinic is planning a health fair for older adult clients in the community. In teaching medication safety, which of the following foods should the nurse advise the clients to avoid when taking their prescriptions?

A) Use hot water so rinse hand sanitizer off:
Using hot water is not recommended when performing hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Alcohol-based sanitizers do not require rinsing off, as they are designed to evaporate quickly, killing germs as they dry. Rinsing with water, especially hot water, can dilute the sanitizer, reducing its effectiveness. Hands should be left to dry naturally after applying the sanitizer.

B) Dry hands with a reusable towel:
While towels can be used for drying hands after washing with soap and water, they should not be used after alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Alcohol hand sanitizers should be allowed to air dry on the hands. Using a towel could reintroduce contaminants and diminish the effectiveness of the sanitizer. Ideally, hands should be rubbed together until they are dry without the need for any towel.

C) Rub hands together for 20 seconds:
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective in killing germs in a short amount of time—usually within 20 seconds or less. However, the correct technique for using alcohol-based hand sanitizers involves rubbing hands together until they are completely dry, not for a full 20 seconds as one might with handwashing. The important factor is ensuring the sanitizer has covered all surfaces of the hands, including between fingers and around nails, before allowing it to air dry.

D) Rub hand sanitizer around rings on fingers:
Rubbing the hand sanitizer around rings is a necessary step. Jewelry, such as rings, can harbor bacteria or other pathogens, making it essential to ensure the sanitizer comes into contact with areas that are often missed during hand hygiene, like around rings. The nurse should rub the hand sanitizer thoroughly over all surfaces of the hands, including around jewelry, to ensure effective hand hygiene.

A) Holds their hands below the elbows while rinsing off soap:
This is the correct practice when performing hand hygiene. To prevent contamination, hands should be kept below the elbows while rinsing to allow the water and soap to flow downward and away from the clean hands. This helps to avoid contaminating the hands with water running down the forearms.

B) Uses hot water to wash their hands:
The temperature of the water should be warm, not hot. Hot water can irritate the skin and cause dryness, which may lead to skin breaks, a potential route for pathogen entry. Therefore, warm water is recommended for hand hygiene, as it is effective and more comfortable for the skin.

C) Turns off the faucet with their hands:
The faucet should be turned off using a paper towel or another method that avoids re-contaminating the hands after washing. Using clean hands to turn off the faucet would defeat the purpose of hand hygiene, as the faucet handle is a common area for bacterial contamination.

D) Washes their hands for 10 seconds:
The proper duration for washing hands is at least 20 seconds, not 10. This ensures that enough time is taken to properly clean all surfaces of the hands, including the palms, backs of hands, between fingers, and under fingernails. Shortening this time can lead to inadequate cleansing, leaving pathogens on the hands.