Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of performing hand hygiene before handling clean linens?

1. Ensure the linens smell fresh

2. Personal preference of the nursing assistant

3. Prevent allergic reactions

4. Prevent the transfer of microbes

The correct answer is: Prevent the transfer of microbes

The primary purpose of performing hand hygiene before handling clean linens is to prevent the transfer of microbes. This practice is essential in healthcare settings to maintain a sterile environment and ensure patient safety. Clean linens may appear uncontaminated, but they can be exposed to pathogens if not handled properly. By practicing hand hygiene, nursing assistants minimize the risk of spreading germs that could potentially lead to infections or complications for patients. While ensuring that linens smell fresh, personal preferences, and preventing allergic reactions are considerations in general care, they do not directly address the crucial aspect of infection control that hand hygiene focuses on. Ultimately, maintaining proper hand hygiene is vital for safeguarding health and is a standard protocol in clinical practice.