Sykehusinfeksjoner og pasientsikkerhet

Hospital-acquired infections are a serious problem and can be a threat to patient safety. The purpose of this study is to examine the thoughts and experiences of critical care nurses in regard to hospital-acquired infections and patient safety. This study uses a qualitative design based on focus group interviews. Inclusion criteria for the focus group panels were the following: nurses with advanced training in anesthesiology, intensive care or operating room nurses. The findings show that respect for hygiene protocols becomes reduced over time and this affects patient safety. A busy and stressful work environment can also be a problem when having to adhere to these protocols. They also pointed out the consequences of poor role models in that it was everyone's responsibility to adhere to hygiene protocols. Finally, the more experienced nurses had often not up-dated their education. In conclusion, critical care nurses have experienced that hospital-acquired infections and a decrease in patient safety can be result of poor hand hygiene, failure to comply with established protocols, poor role models and a busy and stressful environment. Thoughts and experiences of critical care nurses should be considered in clinical practices in order to reduce hospital-acquired infections and preserve patient safety.