The strengthening of infection control practice by the use of professional portfolios for infection control link professionals

Abstract

ffective solutions to reduce the rate of healthcare-associated infection necessitate direct action at many different levels. One of the many strategies at a large teaching hospital in the UK has been the introduction and development of the infection control link role. This paper describes the development of this role via the use of a professional portfolio. Monthly seminars were conducted with infection control link professionals. The aim of the seminars was to help members to develop their infection control knowledge base and practice. To achieve this, portfolios were introduced and used by the infection control link professionals. The factors influencing the development of the role and portfolio usage are identified and the implications for nursing practice, in the context of infection control practice are addressed. AbstractDouble-blind peer reviewed paper E

Hand hygiene practices: nursing students’ perceptions

“…The way in which ICNs prioritise their workload, by placing more of an emphasis on risk management, clinical effectiveness and clinical audit Hughes 2002), means that ICNs typically have less time for ward‐based activities. A way of addressing the demands that face the ICN, while facilitating effective hand hygiene compliance has been the introduction of an infection control link professional (ICLP) into each clinical area (Vaughan & Randle 2005). The ICLP acts as a liaison between a department and the ICT with the aim of improving infection control practice (Dawson 2003, Vaughan & Randle 2005).…”

“…A way of addressing the demands that face the ICN, while facilitating effective hand hygiene compliance has been the introduction of an infection control link professional (ICLP) into each clinical area (Vaughan & Randle 2005). The ICLP acts as a liaison between a department and the ICT with the aim of improving infection control practice (Dawson 2003, Vaughan & Randle 2005). Millward et al.…”

Infection control link professionals' knowledge of Clostridium difficile

“…Similarly, Reeve and Bullivent (1996) identify the need for the nurse to interact with their learning by stating that a portfolio can act as a medium to examine personal and professional experiences and evaluate strategies to enhance patient care. Vaughan and Randle (2005) show how portfolios can a useful tool upon which to base and advance the infection control elements of practice and can make roles and responsibilities explicit. These findings are similar to those found by a study examining the impact of an infection control link nurse programme (Cooper 2004a;2004b;2005).…”

“…A popular strategy for infection control teams to try and disseminate infection prevention and control education and to improve practice is the use of infection control link professionals (ICLPs). This role has been identified and discussed previously (Cooper 2004a(Cooper , 2004b(Cooper , 2005Vaughan and Randle, 2005), but can be summarised as a role a professional undertakes in order to act as a liaison between a department and the infection control team, with the aim of improving infection prevention and control practice.…”

An evaluation of patient satisfaction regarding the care and information provided by infection control nurses relating to MRSA

“…However, improved education at clinical level by trained infection control link professionals is another method of improving educational delivery (Cooper, 2004). This view is echoed by Vaughan and Randle (2005) who go further, maintaining that the use of infection control link professionals should result in ownership of infection control by the ward staff.…”