Nurse Agency Tips: How To Protect Your Hands At Work

Agency Tips for nurses to protect their hands at work

Nursing jobs in Sydney can be rewarding, but nurse jobs often take a toll, especially on your hands.  A nurse’s hands are perhaps the most exposed part of the body that is frequently washed using harsh soaps and chemicals, and powdered latex and nitrile gloves. Read on to find how you can minimise the damage to your hands.

• Avoid hot water
• Use non-alcohol soap
• Pat dry
• Gloved hands
• Don’t skip the moisturizer
• Check for broken skin

6 Tips for nurses to protect your hands at work

Avoid hot water

Washing hands constantly is an occupational hazard in nurse jobs, but try to avoid hot water when doing so. Cool or warm water prevents skin from drying out. Soap will still kill unwanted germs, helping to prevent the spread of infection. Hot water can strip your skin’s natural moisture, which can aggravate dryness, making hands tight, itchy, hot, and uncomfortable.

Use non-alcohol soap

Nurses wash their hands several times, which leaves skin feeling dry and raw. Drying agents like alcohol or fragrance cause more discomfort. Use soap that replenishes the skin’s moisture, and avoid soap with alcohol, heavy perfumes and dyes.

Pat dry

Try the blotting method when drying hands, instead of rubbing. Rubbing sore, cracked and red hands can worsen symptoms of dryness for those doing nursing jobs in Sydney. Dust or shake water from hands and allow them to air dry. Avoid hand dryers. 

Gloved hands

Nurses have to wear gloves to minimise infection, but powdered latex and nitrile gloves can be rough on skin. Certain brands of gloves contain moisturizer to prevent chafing, so check with procurement if these can be purchased. If possible, wear snug cotton gloves under latex or nitrile gloves to protect skin.

Don’t skip the moisturizer

Follow hand washing with moisturizing; Preferably with a repairing lotion, heavy hand cream or ointment. Reapply frequently, every time you wash hands. 

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