Proper hand hygiene is the simplest and most economical strategy to reduce the spread of infections in healthcare facilities. If we look at history, improper hand hygiene is the main reason for the appearance of numerous diseases and infections. Today, improper and insufficient hand hygiene of healthcare workers is one of the main reasons for the transmission and spread of microorganisms among patients, as well as healthcare workers. The most effective method of reducing infection through the transmission of microorganisms is achieved by thorough hand washing and hygienic alcohol rubbing. In the theoretical part, the history of hand hygiene, the role of healthcare professionals, guidelines for correct hand hygiene and methods of implementing hand hygiene will be covered. The work focuses on nursing students and their knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene. Through their higher education and practice, students become familiar with the need, knowledge and routine of hand hygiene. The aim of this final thesis is to examine the knowledge and attitudes of regular and part-time nursing students and to see if there are any differences between two of them. The research was conducted on full-time and part-time undergraduate nursing students at the Faculty of Health Studies in Rijeka. 70 students participated in the research. The questionnaire consisted of 14 questions with answers already offered in advance. The analysis of the survey is presented using tables and graphs. The results of the conducted research showed that students have positive attitudes towards hygiene. Also, the results reflect the high knowledge of nursing students about hand hygiene. Furthermore, the results showed that the majority of students follow hand hygiene guidelines during practice/work.