Sestrinski glasnik, Vol. 29 No. 2, 2024.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.11608/sgnj.29.2.3
Link nurse for infection prevention and control in acute hospitals - scoping review
Smilja Kalenić
orcid.org/0009-0007-2076-5173
; Opatijski trg 6, 10 000 Zagreb
*
Romana Palić
; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, 10 000 Zagreb
Ana Budimir
; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, 10 000 Zagreb
Zrinka Bošnjak
; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, 10 000 Zagreb
Ines Leto
orcid.org/0000-0003-3757-5513
; General Hospital Zadar, Bože Peričića 5, 23 000 Zadar, Croatia
Morana Magaš
; Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Health Care Department, Hospital Infection Control Department, Krešimirova 42, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia; Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Department of Nursing, Viktora Cara Emina 5, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia
Martina Močenić
orcid.org/0009-0005-3215-8114
; General Hospital Pula, Santoriova 24 a, 52 100 Pula, Croatia
Mihaela Kranjčević-Ščurić
; University North, University Centre Varaždin, Jurja Križanića 31b; 42 000 Varaždin, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Introduction
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the most common adverse events in healthcare. They are prevented by different methods, one of which is the link nurse (LN) for the prevention of HAI.
Methods
The literature was searched in PubMed, CINAHL and Google Scholar databases. The terms were "link nurse", “liaison nurse", and "infection control". The last review date was January 31, 2024. Papers from acute hospitals are included. Papers were reviewed by 2 co-authors. No critical evaluation of the papers was done.
Results
The review included 65 papers (83% from developed countries). 6 groups of topics were found: roles, responsibilities and competencies of the LN; personal characteristics; education; program establishment; evaluation of the system and the effects of action and the physician as a link for infection control.
Discussion with conclusion
LN was established in 1981 in the USA as an aid to the epidemiological service in the monitoring of HAIs, and today is widespread in many countries. LN is a shift nurse who knows the specialty of the ward, has a special interest in infections, and deals with HAI tasks in part of her work time. She/he connects the ward and the infection prevention service. The LN function is voluntary. In addition to infection prevention knowledge and skills, she/he must also have psychological skills for working with people and adult education skills. The hospital's HAI prevention service educates her/him; applies EBM prevention standards in daily practice, and serves as a model and source of information for other staff. The system's sustainability depends on the support of the hospital administration, the head nurse of the ward, the nurse for the prevention of HAIs, and other LNs in the hospital. The program’s effectiveness is hindered by various factors: insufficient staffing and high turnover, lack of emphasis on infection control, the undefined role of LN, doctors' reluctance to accept LN, and a lack of communication between staff in different wards to exchange experiences. Although there are not many papers on the effect of LN in reducing HAI in randomized studies, many "before-after" studies show the undoubted value of the LN program, and some recent studies also describe the role of the physician as a link person.
Keywords
healthcare-associated infections; prevention; link nurse; education
Hrčak ID:
320095
URI
Publication date:
16.8.2024.
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