{"title":"Nurse–patient ratios and infection control practices: A cross-sectional study","authors":"Monika Tencic , Michael Anthony Roche","doi":"10.1016/j.colegn.2023.09.003","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Substantial research evidence supports the link between nurse staffing and patient outcomes. Low nurse staffing and high workloads have been linked to poor hand hygiene, ineffective equipment cleaning, and incorrect use of personal protective equipment (PPE), with potential outcomes of intravenous cannula infections, wound infections, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia. Research is limited regarding the impact of staffing models on specific infection control practices (ICP) such as wound dressing, oral hygiene, or patient education.</p></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><p>To describe nurses’ perceptions of the impact of nurse–patient ratios on ICP.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire with items drawn from pertinent research was distributed via QR code. Data were collected from 51 nurses on 12 units in a large tertiary referral hospital where a minimum 1:4 patient ratio had been recently introduced. Analysis was comparative and descriptive.</p></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><p>Most participants were female registered nurses with less than 10 years’ experience in nursing. More than half had experienced a 1:4 ratio on their most recent shift. Nurses in this group indicated that they could complete infection control care in a timely manner, were more likely to provide infection control-related patient education, and had more time to communicate with the treating team about infection control matters. Hand hygiene and the use of PPE were not associated with the 1:4 staffing model.</p></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><p>ICP included patient education, effective communication, and support appears to be strengthened by ratio staffing. These actions, together with more timely completion of activities such as oral hygiene and wound dressings, may significantly impact hospital-acquired infections and enhance patient safety.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>ICP may be strengthened by staffing consistent with the 1:4 ratio framework. This suggests that ratio-based staffing can have an early and important impact on practice. Findings regarding foundational practices, teamwork, and team support warrant further investigation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55241,"journal":{"name":"Collegian","volume":"30 6","pages":"Pages 828-834"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2023-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1322769623000926/pdfft?md5=e1fb0dd9c626406b30f7238a9ef331aa&pid=1-s2.0-S1322769623000926-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Collegian","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1322769623000926","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Substantial research evidence supports the link between nurse staffing and patient outcomes. Low nurse staffing and high workloads have been linked to poor hand hygiene, ineffective equipment cleaning, and incorrect use of personal protective equipment (PPE), with potential outcomes of intravenous cannula infections, wound infections, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia. Research is limited regarding the impact of staffing models on specific infection control practices (ICP) such as wound dressing, oral hygiene, or patient education.
Aim
To describe nurses’ perceptions of the impact of nurse–patient ratios on ICP.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire with items drawn from pertinent research was distributed via QR code. Data were collected from 51 nurses on 12 units in a large tertiary referral hospital where a minimum 1:4 patient ratio had been recently introduced. Analysis was comparative and descriptive.
Findings
Most participants were female registered nurses with less than 10 years’ experience in nursing. More than half had experienced a 1:4 ratio on their most recent shift. Nurses in this group indicated that they could complete infection control care in a timely manner, were more likely to provide infection control-related patient education, and had more time to communicate with the treating team about infection control matters. Hand hygiene and the use of PPE were not associated with the 1:4 staffing model.
Discussion
ICP included patient education, effective communication, and support appears to be strengthened by ratio staffing. These actions, together with more timely completion of activities such as oral hygiene and wound dressings, may significantly impact hospital-acquired infections and enhance patient safety.
Conclusion
ICP may be strengthened by staffing consistent with the 1:4 ratio framework. This suggests that ratio-based staffing can have an early and important impact on practice. Findings regarding foundational practices, teamwork, and team support warrant further investigation.
期刊介绍：
Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research is the official journal of Australian College of Nursing (ACN).
The journal aims to reflect the broad interests of nurses and the nursing profession, and to challenge nurses on emerging areas of interest. It publishes research articles and scholarly discussion of nursing practice, policy and professional issues.
Papers published in the journal are peer reviewed by a double blind process using reviewers who meet high standards of academic and clinical expertise. Invited papers that contribute to nursing knowledge and debate are published at the discretion of the Editor.
The journal, online only from 2016, is available to members of ACN and also by separate subscription.
ACN believes that each and every nurse in Australia should have the opportunity to grow their career through quality education, and further our profession through representation. ACN is the voice of influence, providing the nursing expertise and experience required when government and key stakeholders are deciding the future of health.
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