Nurses’ views of infection control organization in regional hospitals of Latvia

Abstract

Every nurse can play a significant role in minimizing the risk of healthcare-associated infections, especially, if she use care guidelines and nursing protocols in patients care. The aim of the study to investigate the nurses’ views of infection control organization in 10 regional hospitals of Latvia. The qualitative research method as structured interview (n = 36) was used. The most common reasons for failures of infection control in nurses’ views were referred to the lack of guidelines and patient care documentation, and to the lack of availability of equipment, particularly for hand decontamination, gloves-wearing and safe collection of sharp instruments/objects, and to the lack of availability of work wear. The most common reasons why nurses break the rules of the infection control were overload and the lack of knowledge. Conclusions. Obtained results reflect problem areas in patients’ care from the nurses’ views and necessity for improvement of infection control organization.