During an in-service on hand hygiene, what should the nurse manager instruct assistive personnel regarding wearing rings?

Wearing rings during hand hygiene practices can impede proper cleaning, as rings often harbor bacteria in the areas underneath them, making it difficult to achieve adequate disinfection. The instruction to remove rings when washing hands with soap and water emphasizes the importance of thorough hand hygiene. This practice ensures that the skin is fully exposed and that soap and water can effectively reach all skin surfaces, including those areas typically covered by rings.

Allowing rings to remain on during handwashing could compromise the integrity of the hand hygiene process, as the areas around the rings may not be scrubbed thoroughly. This aligns with the standard practices in healthcare environments to minimize the risk of infection to patients by ensuring that hand hygiene protocols are strictly adhered to.

In comparison, instructions suggesting that rings should be cleaned daily or sanitized do not address the primary concern of effective handwashing. Similarly, wearing rings during food preparation is not advisable, as it increases the risk of contaminating food with bacteria that could be present on the rings or the hands.