Intra- and Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Addressing Hospital-Acquired Infections

Intra- and Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Addressing Hospital-Acquired Infections

As a DNP-prepared nurse managing a busy ICU, I once encountered a surge in hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), particularly among patients recovering from cardiovascular procedures. Concerned about patient safety and outcomes, I initiated a practice-based study to determine the causes of the infections and to implement solutions. This initiative highlighted the critical role of both intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration in quality improvement efforts.

In terms of intra-professional collaboration, I began by working with the ICU’s nursing manager to organize structured brainstorming sessions with the nursing staff. These sessions created a space for open dialogue, allowing nurses to share concerns and observations. We identified gaps in the central line care bundles on dressing changes, hand hygiene, and documentation. First, the team provided ‘booster’ training sessions for staff and started using self-audit checklists in order to increase staff compliance with evidence-based practices.

On the interdisciplinary side, I collaborated with several professionals, including an infection prevention specialist, a microbiologist, and the pharmacy team. The infection control nurse offered a wealth of information regarding sources of environmental contaminants and organizational compliance. The work of the microbiologist involved the determination of the cycle of infection strains and deficiencies in the sterilization of equipment. Pharmacists helped assess and change the timing of antibiotic administration after surgery according to our evidence-based standards.

A major challenge we encountered was staff resistance due to fear of blame or punitive consequences. To address this, I emphasized a culture of safety and continuous improvement. Regular team meetings and transparent communication helped shift the mindset from blame to collaboration, resulting in improved morale and participation.

A significant opportunity arose when the pharmacists identified that delays in antibiotic administration were contributing to infection risk. This led to a successful protocol revision and a measurable reduction in HAIs within two months. This experience underscored that effective intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration leads to better outcomes, shared ownership, and enhanced patient safety (Johnson & Johnson, 2023). Together, we were able to transform a crisis into an opportunity for lasting improvement.

References

Johnson & Johnson. (2023, September 11). The importance of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. Discover Nursing. https://nursing.jnj.com/getting-real-nursing-today/the-importance-of-interprofessional-collaboration-in-healthcare

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

Intra- and Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Addressing Hospital-Acquired Infections

Imagine that you are a DNP-prepared nurse responsible for overseeing a large intensive care unit (ICU). You have noticed that in the past three months, the number of nosocomial, or hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), has dramatically increased among patients who have undergone cardiovascular procedures. You would like to initiate a practice study to determine the source of these HAIs and to improve patient outcomes in your ICU.

Intra- and Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Addressing Hospital-Acquired Infections

What types of intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration might be needed to support the goals of this practice study?
One example of intra-disciplinary collaboration is that you might meet with the nursing manager in charge of your unit and ask to set up a brainstorming session with the nurses on the unit to explore their perceptions of why the HAIs have increased among patients who have undergone cardiovascular procedures. An example of interdisciplinary collaboration is that you might team up with an infection prevention specialist (who may be a PhD-prepared nurse or PhD-credentialed healthcare professional) who can address the problem from an alternative perspective. These are just two of many potential intra- and interprofessional collaborations that may take place in an advanced nursing practice situation like this. Keep in mind that when intra- and interprofessional colleagues work together toward a shared, patient-centric goal, both the quality and cost of the care delivered will be optimized (Johnson & Johnson, 2016).

Reference:

Johnson & Johnson. (2023, September 10). Nursing: The importance of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. https://nursing.jnj.com/getting-real-nursing-today/the-importance-of-interprofessional-collaboration-in-healthcare
To prepare:
• Review this week’s Learning Resources, paying special attention to the various strategies mentioned to foster intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration in nursing practice.
o (see references below).
• Reflect on your own previous professional experiences with intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration.
o Consider the various intra- and interprofessional individuals and groups with whom you worked and the ways in which you interacted.
o Choose one specific challenge you faced and reflect on how you and your colleagues overcame it.
o Choose one specific opportunity you faced and reflect on how you and your colleagues embraced it.
Note: Be sure to review the grading rubric for this Blog so you fully understand what is expected of you (see references below).
Address the following in your Blog entry:
• Describe one relevant professional experience you have had with intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration.
o Describe the various intra- and interprofessional individuals and groups with whom you worked and the ways in which you interacted.
o Describe one specific challenge you faced and explain how you and your colleagues overcame it. Be specific.
o Describe one opportunity you faced and explain how you and your colleagues embraced it. Be specific.
References
• Africa, L., Frantz, J. M., & Mlenzana, N. B. (2023). Activities to promote interprofessional practice at primary healthcare level: A systematic reviewLinks to an external site.. Social and Health Sciences, Article 12130. https://doi.org/10.25159/2957-3645/12130

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing educationLinks to an external site.. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Essentials-2021.pdf

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (n.d.). The essentials: Domain 6: Interprofessional partnershipsLinks to an external site.. https://www.aacnnursing.org/essentials/tool-kit/domains-concepts/interprofessional-partnerships

• Bradley, C., & Bleich, M. (2024). The DNP graduate and the potential to advance nursing: An interview with thought leader Michael Bleich, PhD, RN, FAAN, by Carol Bradley, MSN, RN, FAONLLinks to an external site.. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 48(1), 80–82. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000621

• Interprofessional Education Collaborative. (2023, November 20). IPEC core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice: Version 3Links to an external site.. https://ipec.memberclicks.net/assets/core-competencies/IPEC_Core_Competencies_Version_3_2023.pdf

• Healthy People 2030. (n.d.). Healthy people in actionLinks to an external site.. https://health.gov/healthypeople/tools-action/healthy-people-in-action

• Ho, J. T., See, M. T. A., Tan, A. J. Q., Levett-Jones, T., Lau, T. C., Zhou, W., & Liaw, S. Y. (2023). Healthcare professionals’ experiences of interprofessional collaboration in patient education: A systematic reviewLinks to an external site.. Patient Education and Counseling, 113, Article 107965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.107965

• King, R. J., Heisey-Grove, D. M., Garrett, N., Scott, K. A., Daley, M. F., Haemer, M. A., Podila, P., Block, J. P., Carton, T., Gregorowicz, A. J., Mork, K. P., Porter, R. M., Chudnov, D. L., Jellison, J., Kraus, E. M., Harrison, M. R., Sucosky, M. S., Armstrong, S., & Goodman, A. B. (2022).The childhood obesity data initiative: A case study in implementing clinical-community infrastructure enhancements to support health services research and public healthLinks to an external site.. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 28(2), E430–E440. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000001419

• McLaney, E., Morassaei, S., Hughes, L., Davies, R., Campbell, M., & Di Prospero, L. (2022). A framework for interprofessional team collaboration in a hospital setting: Advancing team competencies and behavioursLinks to an external site.. Healthcare Management Forum, 35(2), 112–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/08404704211063584

• Merriam, D., Wiggs, C., Provencio, R., Goldschmidt, K., Bonnett, P., Valazza, V., Brodhead, J., Scardaville, D., & Stalter, A. (2022). Concept analysis of systems thinking in the context of interprofessional practice and improved patient outcomesLinks to an external site.. Nursing Education Perspectives, 43(4), E20–E25. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000951

• O’Leary, N., Salmon, N., O’Donnell, M., Murphy, S., & Mannion, J. (2023). Interprofessional education and practice guide: Profiling readiness for practice-based IPELinks to an external site.. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 37(1), 150–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2022.2038551

• Ruebling, I., Eggenberger, T., Frost, J. S., Gazenfried, E., Greer, A., Khalili, H., Ochs, J., Ronnebaum, J., & Stein, S. M. (2023). Interprofessional collaboration: A public policy healthcare transformation call for actionLinks to an external site.. Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice, 33, Article 100675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2023.100675