Vaccination policies of Utah family practice clinics

Abstract

Background and purpose The purpose of this study was to collect information regarding healthcare worker (HCW) vaccination policies in Utah family practice clinics. Methods The study was conducted in Utah family practice clinics in the most densely populated counties in the state and was a cross‐sectional descriptive design. Data were collected from 91 family practice clinic managers. Descriptive statistics were performed, as well as a content analysis for open‐ended items. Conclusions HCWs are employed in environments where infectious diseases can be easily spread from person to person, thus, vaccinations can be instrumental in protecting the health of HCWs and patients alike. In Utah, 56.8% of family practice clinics had either no vaccination policy for HCWs or had a policy with no consequences for noncompliance. Utah family practice clinics need to implement changes to create and maintain HCW vaccination policies. Implications for practice Nurse practitioners can be leaders and change agents by working with their county and state health departments to create state‐wide policies that mirror the position statements from the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.