Discuss your role as a nurse in preventing hospital-acquired infection while on clinical placement

The aim of this essay is to ascertain what hospital acquired infection entails, the detrimental effects it causes and to highlight the active role nurses can take in the prevention of this type of infection. Hospital acquired (or nosocomial) infection is: 'one that originated in the hospital environment; i.e. was not present or incubating on admission and which appeared 48h or more after admission' (Azzam et al. 2001). Infection is caused by pathogenic organisms which …

…R., Teitler, N., Lavi, I. and Raz, R. (2001) High-level handwashing compliance in a community teaching hospital: a challenge that can be met! Journal of Hospital infection, 49: 55- 58. Steed, C.J. Nursing Clinics of North America: Contemporary Infection Control for Nurses. Common infections acquired in the hospital, the nurses role in Prevention. Vol 34, Number 2, June 1999. Van der Broek, P.J., Verbakel-Salomons, E.M.A. and Bernords, A.T. (2001) Handwashing quality not quantity. Journal of Hospital Infection, 49: 297.