Why should you always wash a resident's hand before feeding them?

Nursing protocols in the OR can be tough. There are certain rules that you need to follow all placed too help minimize infection, damage and to maximize yield. In long operations, surgeons and residents may not have enough time to eat. They can go hypoglycemic if they are not taken care of. In these situations, it is the nurse who feeds the resident, however, the nurse must still wash the resident’s hand.

This is because the resident may absent mindedly touch the food and then his or her mouth raising the risk of infection. Washing hands helps minimize this risk and allows the resident to work in a relatively safe environment.