NERS NEWS – Students of the Nursing Professional Education Study Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, from Group 5 of the Basic Nursing Rotation, conducted a Hospital Health Education (PKRS) activity on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) in the IRNA 3A Graha Trimed ward. The activity focused on the topic “Infection Prevention: 6 Steps of Proper Handwashing” and was attended by patients’ family members in the ward.
This PKRS activity aimed to increase patients’ families’ knowledge and awareness of the importance of hand hygiene as one of the efforts to prevent the spread of infection in the hospital environment. The education was delivered interactively using PowerPoint presentations and leaflets, allowing participants to obtain information while also observing the correct handwashing steps directly.
During the activity, the education team explained the importance of handwashing, the appropriate times to wash hands, and demonstrated the 6 correct steps of handwashing. The presentation was followed by a discussion and question-and-answer session to assess participants’ understanding of the material that had been delivered.
Throughout the activity, patients’ family members appeared attentive and followed the educational session well. Participants also demonstrated enthusiasm by asking questions, one of which was, “Does each step of handwashing have to be performed in sequence?” The question was then explained by the education team to ensure that the participants understood the proper handwashing technique.
Participants’ enthusiasm was also evident when the team instructed them to practice the 6 steps of handwashing. Participants actively followed each instruction and were able to answer the questions given by the team during the evaluation session. At the end of the activity, participants practiced the 6 correct handwashing steps together as a form of direct application of the material that had been provided.
The PKRS activity was conducted successfully, smoothly, and interactively. The active participation of patients’ family members demonstrated that the education provided was well received. This activity is expected to increase patients’ families’ awareness of the importance of hand hygiene and encourage the proper application of the 6 steps of handwashing as part of infection prevention efforts, both during their stay in the hospital and in their daily lives.
This activity also contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. Education on hand hygiene supports disease and infection prevention efforts, improves public health literacy, and encourages the adoption of clean and healthy living behaviors. In addition, this activity also supported SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, particularly by increasing awareness of proper hand hygiene practices as part of good sanitation behavior. The implementation of this PKRS activity was also accompanied and supervised by the ward nurse, Fauziah Firasanti, S.Kep., Ns., as part of the implementation of health education activities in the hospital environment.
Author: Maria Alfonso Apetatu
