title: Roles of infection control nurses in university hospitals.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Lamphun Hospital, Lamphun.
authors.forename: Maleewan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasetat
authors.forename: Thanarak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suwanpropis
authors.forename: Wilawan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Senaratana
authors.forename: Wanchai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Buppanharan
authors.forename: Somwang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danchaivijitr
mesh_terms: 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