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Beating the Bugs: The Development of an Infection Control Link Nurse Program

Beating the Bugs: The Development of an Infection Control Link Nurse Program. Jodie Burr Infection Control Coordinator Women’s and Children’s Hospital South Australia. What are ICLN/Ms.

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Beating the Bugs: The Development of an Infection Control Link Nurse Program

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  1. Beating the Bugs:The Development of an Infection Control Link Nurse Program Jodie Burr Infection Control Coordinator Women’s and Children’s Hospital South Australia

  2. What are ICLN/Ms • ICLN/Ms are nurses/midwives that have dedicated time for infection control activities within their own clinical area • They assist Infection Control Practitioners rather than are responsible for infection control programs

  3. Examples of Duties • Educating ward/unit staff • Ensuring compliance with infection control guidelines • Assisting with outbreaks or disease exposures • Developing patient & staff information brochures • Promoting infection control initiatives

  4. Background • External auditors conducted a review of infection control practices in SA Metropolitan Public Hospitals in 2002 • Recommendations from review included expansion of existing ICLN Program to other metropolitan public hospitals

  5. Background • The SA Department of Health (Metropolitan Health Division) provided funding for 15 FTE ICLNs • Training provided by the Infection Control Service (DoH)

  6. WCH ICLN/M Program • Funding provided for 2.2FTE • 12 part time positions created • Range 0.1 – 0.4 FTE • Paediatric Medicine Division • Paediatric Surgical Division • Women’s & Babies Division • Anaesthetics & Theatres Division • Medical Imaging Division

  7. Challenges • Initial commencement of Program • No guidelines on how to proceed • Employment / Contracts • Rostering • Funding • Initial training / orientation

  8. Challenges • Support & direction for new roles • Diversity of areas • Physical • Access to a dedicated room, desk, computer, printer, stationary • No other SA Hospitals to benchmark with due to specialization of WCH

  9. Challenges • Time to support & assist individual ICLN/Ms • Impact on an already demanding work load • Regular times to meet • Some ICLN/Ms more forthright in needs

  10. Challenges • Identifying communication methods • Email / internal mail • Rosters • Networked computers • Intranet

  11. Challenges • Ensuring continual ICLN/M motivation • Succession planning • Dedicated time and space • Educational opportunities • Recognition for work

  12. Challenges • Promoting the WCH ICLN/Ms throughout the hospital: • Hospital wide newsletter • Area specific newsletters • Morning teas • Display boards

  13. Outcomes • Increase in communication between Clinical Units & Infection Control Unit • Increase in staff & patient awareness of infection control principles • Development of links with other hospitals • Improvement in rates of infection and compliance with infection control practices

  14. Outcomes-ICLN/Ms • Increase in leadership skills • Increase in confidence • Increase in knowledge and skills • Presenting at state-wide conferences/seminars • Graduate certificate in infection control • Membership (+ Executive Committee) Infection Control Association of SA

  15. Future leadership challenges • Extending the ICLN/M program • Intravenous Line Link Nurse • Immunization Link Nurse • Promotion of the WCH as a leader in infection control • ¼ promotional events • Conferences

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