Roles of infection control nurses in university hospitals.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the roles of infection control nurses (ICNs) in university hospitals.


METHODS
Interviewing 23 ICNs in 6 university hospitals applying for hospital accreditation during March and April 2002.


RESULTS
The ICNs had an average work experience of 11.3 years. The roles relatively well carried out by the ICNs were: administration, outbreak investigation, personnel health, education, consultation. Better performance was needed in the roles of presenting surveillance data to infection control committee, research and analyzing the needs and expectation of patients related to IC.


CONCLUSIONS
Infection control nurses in university hospitals could perform their roles relatively well. However, better roles in surveillance, research and quality improvement need to be developed.
Kasetat
Maleewan
M
Lamphun Hospital, Lamphun.
Suwanpropis
Thanarak
T
Senaratana
Wilawan
W
Buppanharan
Wanchai
W
Danchaivijitr
Somwang
S
D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007587:Job Description; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D016134:Organizational Policy; D013785:Thailand