Infection Control
Hand Hygiene
The #1 critical-step skill on every NNAAP form. Wash your hands before and after every patient contact. Miss one stroke and the whole skill fails.
No time limit•9 steps•4 criticalAlways tested
Why this matters
The skill graders test first — and the one you can never miss.
Quick tips
- 20 seconds of friction — long enough to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice
- Sing the test out loud so the evaluator hears you taking your time
- Turn off the faucet with a paper towel, not your clean hand
Common mistakes
- Skipping the thumb or the back of the hand
- Touching the sink with clean hands after washing
- Not washing long enough (under 20 seconds)
- Reaching for the paper towel with wet hands before the wash