An intern notices a consultant does not wash hands before patient contact. What is your appropriate first step?

An intern notices a consultant does not wash hands before patient contact. What is your appropriate first step?

• A. Would you like some hand sanitiser? And give consultant the hand sanitiser
• B. Ignore the lapse and proceed with patient contact
• C. Report the consultant to infection control immediately
• D. Wash your own hands and say nothing

Answer: (A)

When patient safety hinges on preventing transmission, catching lapses in hand hygiene and addressing them promptly is essential. The best first step is to give a quick, direct reminder by offering hand sanitiser to the consultant before contact with the patient. This action creates an immediate opportunity to correct the behavior, protects the patient, and models the standard without creating tension. It’s a non-confrontational nudge that prioritises safety and supports a collaborative safety culture. If the consultant accepts and sanitises their hands, the encounter can continue safely. If the lapse recurs or the offer is refused, then escalation to infection control or a supervisor in line with local policy is appropriate. Ignoring the lapse or proceeding with patient contact risks transmission, and washing your own hands and saying nothing does not address the risk or reinforce the expected practice. Reporting immediately for a single lapse misses the chance to prevent harm in the moment.

When patient safety hinges on preventing transmission, catching lapses in hand hygiene and addressing them promptly is essential. The best first step is to give a quick, direct reminder by offering hand sanitiser to the consultant before contact with the patient. This action creates an immediate opportunity to correct the behavior, protects the patient, and models the standard without creating tension. It’s a non-confrontational nudge that prioritises safety and supports a collaborative safety culture.

If the consultant accepts and sanitises their hands, the encounter can continue safely. If the lapse recurs or the offer is refused, then escalation to infection control or a supervisor in line with local policy is appropriate. Ignoring the lapse or proceeding with patient contact risks transmission, and washing your own hands and saying nothing does not address the risk or reinforce the expected practice. Reporting immediately for a single lapse misses the chance to prevent harm in the moment.