Enhancing Quality and Safety: Addressing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in healthcare settings are a major concern in patient safety, cost control, and the credibility of the healthcare system. Most of these infections occur during or after treatment and result in morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and mortality. Preventing HAIs involves understanding their sources, putting into practice effective recommendations, and multidisciplinary cooperation, primarily with nurses, to ensure the safety of a healthcare facility: Enhancing Quality and Safety: Addressing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).

Factors Leading to Healthcare-Associated Infections

HAIs are caused by many reasons, some of which include improved infection control measures, longer hospitalization times, utilization of invasive gear and others, as indicated by Liu et al. (2023). Among these, failure in compliance with hand hygiene is one of the most significant and still active causes measured consistently throughout the years. Unfortunately, even though this is one of the most straightforward and efficient intervention approaches to increasing the medicine compliance rate, it is persistently suboptimal in various healthcare organizations. In the same way, failure to use appropriate equipment like catheters, ventilators, and IV lines or lack of proper care and sterilization of these medical devices leads to such conditions as CAUTIs and VAP.

System-related issues like understaffing and high patient acuity make it worse in that pressure on the health professional is extended; hence, negligence on the part of the health profession in adopting infection control precautions is promoted. The high-risk groups of patients include the immunocompromised, the elderly, and patients undergoing invasive procedures to increase their HAI vulnerability. Another factor that has contributed highly to this situation is the misuse of antibiotics, thus the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms that complicate infections and raise HAI risks (Liu et al., 2023). Last but not least, the lack of proper and proper cleaning and disinfection of the healthcare surroundings, compounded by poor ventilation in crowded facilities, adds to this higher risk of pathogen spread.

Evidence-Based and Best-Practice Solutions

To manage hemorrhoidal illnesses, consultative evidence-based strategies must be applied. One of the most suitable strategies is hand washing. The “Five Moments for Hand Hygiene” framework by the World Health Organization serves to ensure consistent compliance by healthcare workers (Harun et al., 2023). Accessible handwashing stations with alcohol-based hand sanitizers should be appropriately placed and supported with regular auditing and feedback mechanisms in place, which will raise adherence to the hand hygiene guidelines.

Another critical component involves environmental cleaning: regular disinfection of high-touch surfaces, patient rooms, and surgical areas will diminish potential contamination. Casini et al. (2023) also discussed some new technologies: ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and hydrogen peroxide vapor systems, which may help eliminate dangerous pathogen microorganisms. An Antimicrobial stewardship program is therefore indispensable in the optimal use of antibiotic therapy with minimal chances of resistance among the strains of bacteria. Such programs will educate health professionals on the appropriate use of antibiotics and establish guidelines for their use only when necessary.

Notably, education and training of healthcare staff are important in ensuring compliance with infection prevention practices. Regular training sessions ensure that healthcare professionals are abreast of the latest guidelines and techniques. Simulation-based training programs can also be appropriate when used to improve the application of infection prevention interventions in ‘real-world’ practice environments. Standard operating procedures for actions taken when dealing with devices, such as catheters and ventilators, which increase device-related infection, are also mandatory.

The Role of Nurses in Infection Prevention

Infection control is considered a nursing responsibility because nurses are the largest group of healthcare personnel, and this necessitates close monitoring of infections. Due to the fact that they are always in direct contact with patients, they are in a vantage position to identify and possibly prevent or control infections. According to Hammoud et al. (2021), the early signs of infection must be recognized by the nurse for the patients assigned to their care, and proper hand washing, as well as the correct use of personal protective equipment, must be consistently practiced by healthcare workers.

Aside from the actual medical practices, nurses have a significant responsibility of informing and ensuring patients and their families on measures to prevent the spread of infections. Here, education on the right habits in preventive personal cleanliness and training the patients’ awareness on early signs of infection make them participate actively in treatment.

Also, nurses involve themselves in care coordination by engaging different professional groups (Hammoud et al., 2021). They coordinate with the housekeeping department to ensure clean surroundings and with the physicians regarding the management of clinics of antimicrobial stewardship. By proper communication and leadership, nurses foster accountability and patient safety.

Stakeholders in Infection Prevention

HAIs prevention is very complex and is a process that involves several actors. Administrators supply materials required for infection prevention activities, e.g., acquiring new disinfectant technology, as well as constant education of the staff. They also have a very critical role in promoting and supporting the safety culture, which includes infection prevention in the context of their organizations’ policies that also monitor and evaluate their organizations at the same level.

After that, these outlined specialists play the roles of stewards of change in that they identify, design, and maintain infection control undertakings, perform risk analysis, and track incidences of infections with the aim of evaluating areas of strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats. Standard authorizing organizations such as The Joint Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) develop standards and assess compliance in an effort to maintain maximum practice quality and safety in healthcare organizations (Sreeramoju et al., 2020).

Patients and families are also involved in infection prevention in this setting. Instructing them to wash their hands, use safe techniques, or report other people they come across who are using improper hygienic handling boosts their ability to protect themselves. Open communication between healthcare providers and patients builds trust and encourages adherence to infection prevention measures. Together, these stakeholders help create a much safer and more effective healthcare environment.

Conclusion

HAIs remain one of the ongoing problems in the healthcare context that can directly affect patients, the economics of healthcare, as well as public confidence. However, risk reduction interventions whose efficacy is supported by proof include hand washing, environmental disinfection, antimicrobial management, and staff training. Nurses are directly involved in the delivery of these measures because they are frontline caregivers and care coordinators and need to build interprofessional relationships.

Thus, all stakeholders involved in a healthcare organization need to be motivated to create and sustain a culture of safety and decrease the volume of HAIs patients suffer from. These fact-filled messages, along with constant reinforcement of appropriate infection prevention behaviors, can help the healthcare system provide a safer experience for all.

References

Casini, B., Tuvo, B., Scarpaci, M., Totaro, M., Badalucco, F., Briani, S., Luchini, G., Costa, A. L., & Baggiani, A. (2023). Implementation of an Environmental Cleaning Protocol in Hospital Critical Areas Using a UV-C Disinfection Robot. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4284. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054284

Hammoud, S., Amer, F., & Kocsis, B. (2021). Examining the Effect of Infection Prevention and Control Awareness among Nurses on Patient and Family Education: A Cross‐sectional Study. Nursing & Health Sciences, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12905

Harun, M. G. D., Anwar, M. M. U., Sumon, S. A., Mohona, T. M., Hassan, M. Z., Rahman, A., Abdullah, S. A. H. M., Islam, M. S., Oakley, L. P., Malpiedi, P., Kaydos-Daniels, S. C., & Styczynski, A. R. (2023). Hand hygiene compliance and associated factors among healthcare workers in selected tertiary-care hospitals in Bangladesh. Journal of Hospital Infection, 139(139), 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2023.07.012

Liu, X., Long, Y., Greenhalgh, C., Steeg, S., Wilkinson, J., Li, H., Verma, A., & Spencer, A. (2023). A systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors associated with healthcare-associated infections among hospitalised patients in Chinese general hospitals from 2001 to 2022. Journal of Hospital Infection, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2023.02.013

Sreeramoju, P. V., Palmore, T. N., Lee, G. M., Edmond, M. B., Patterson, J. E., Sepkowitz, K. A., Goldmann, D. A., Henderson, D. K., & Kaye, K. S. (2020). Institutional quality and patient safety programs: An overview for the healthcare epidemiologist. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 42(1), 6–17. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.409

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For this assessment, you will develop a 3–5 page paper that examines a safety quality issue in a health care setting. You will analyze the issue and examine potential evidence-based and best-practice solutions from the literature as well as the role of nurses and other stakeholders in addressing the issue.

The role of the baccalaureate nurse includes identifying and explaining specific patient risk factors, incorporating evidence-based solutions to improving patient safety and coordinating care. A solid foundation of knowledge and understanding of safety organizations such as Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and The Joint Commission and its National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) program is vital to practicing nurses with regard to providing and promoting safe and effective patient care.

You are encouraged to complete the Identifying Safety Risks and Solutions activity. This activity offers an opportunity to review a case study and practice identifying safety risks and possible solutions. We have found that learners who complete course activities and review resources are more successful with first submissions. Completing course activities is also a way to demonstrate course engagement.

References

• Allen, M. (2013). How many die from medical mistakes in U.S. hospitals? https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/09/20/224507654/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-u-s-hospitals.
• Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J., & Donaldson, M. S. (Eds.). (2000). To err is human: Building a safer health system. National Academy Press.

Professional Context
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you will be responsible for implementing quality improvement (QI) and patient safety measures in health care settings. Effective quality improvement measures result in systemic and organizational changes, ultimately leading to the development of a patient safety culture.

The purpose of this assessment is to better understand the role of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse in enhancing quality improvement (QI) measures that address a safety quality issue in a health care setting. This will be within the specific context of patient safety risks at a health care setting of your choice. You will do this by exploring the professional guidelines and best practices for improving and maintaining patient safety in health care settings from organizations such as QSEN and the IOM.

Looking through the lens of these professional best practices to examine the current policies and procedures currently in place at your chosen organization and the impact on safety measures for patients surrounding a specific safety quality issue, you will consider the role of the nurse in driving quality and safety improvements. You will identify stakeholders in QI improvement and safety measures as well as consider evidence-based strategies to enhance quality of care and promote safety in the context of your chosen health care setting.

As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you will be responsible for implementing quality improvement (QI) and patient safety measures in health care settings. Effective quality improvement measures result in systemic and organizational changes, ultimately leading to the development of a patient safety culture.

The purpose of this assessment is to better understand the role of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse in enhancing quality improvement (QI) measures that address a safety quality issue in a health care setting. This will be within the specific context of patient safety risks at a health care setting of your choice. You will do this by exploring the professional guidelines and best practices for improving and maintaining patient safety in health care settings from organizations such as QSEN and the IOM.

Looking through the lens of these professional best practices to examine the current policies and procedures currently in place at your chosen organization and the impact on safety measures for patients surrounding a specific safety quality issue, you will consider the role of the nurse in driving quality and safety improvements. You will identify stakeholders in QI improvement and safety measures as well as consider evidence-based strategies to enhance quality of care and promote medication administration safety in the context of your chosen health care setting.

Scenario
Select one of the safety quality issues presented in the Assessment 01 Supplement: Enhancing Quality and Safety [PDF] resource and incorporate evidence-based strategies to support communication and ensure safe and effective care.

Enhancing Quality and Safety: Addressing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

Instructions
For this assessment, you will analyze a safety quality issue in a health care setting and identify a quality improvement (QI) initiative.

Be sure that your plan addresses the following, which corresponds to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Please study the scoring guide carefully so that you know what is needed for a distinguished score.

• Explain factors leading to a specific patient-safety risk in a health care setting.
• Explain evidence-based and best-practice solutions to improve patient safety and reduce costs.
• Explain how nurses can help coordinate care to increase patient safety and reduce costs.
• Identify stakeholders with whom nurses would coordinate to drive safety enhancements with a specific safety quality issue.
• Communicate using writing that is clear, logical, and professional, with correct grammar and spelling, using current APA style.

Additional Requirements

• Length of submission: 3–5 pages, plus title and reference pages.
• Number of references: Cite a minimum of 4 sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your findings and considerations. Resources should be no more than 5 years old.
• APA formatting: References and citations are formatted according to current APA style.

Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Analyze the elements of a successful quality improvement initiative.
  • Explain evidence-based and best-practice solutions to improve patient safety and reduce costs.
• Competency 2: Analyze factors that lead to patient safety risks.
  • Explain factors leading to a specific patient-safety risk in a health care setting.
• Competency 4: Explain the nurse’s role in coordinating care to enhance quality and reduce costs.
  • Explain how nurses can help coordinate care to increase patient safety and reduce costs.
  • Identify stakeholders with whom nurses would coordinate to drive safety enhancements with a specific safety quality issue.
• Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly, evidence-based strategies to communicate in a manner that supports safe and effective patient care.
  • Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar or punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
  • Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.