Nursing management and leadership in the Hospital Infection Committee of the Manuel Sanguinetti Regional Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: an infection control committee is an instance formed by trained professionals committed to patient safety. Objective: to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the nursing staff regarding the functioning of the Infection Committee, as well as the management and leadership of the nursing representative. Methods: an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out at the Manuel Sanguinetti Regional Hospital, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut (Argentina), in July 2020. The sample consisted of 131 nurses. To obtain data, a perception questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes and practices was applied. Results: 17,6 % of professionals with staff in charge. The majority belong to the female gender (87 %). The predominant age range was between 36 and 45 (42,7 %), with the longest seniority in the hospital being between 5 and 10 years (35,9 %). 90 % consider that the ECI should establish a network with the hierarchical personnel and the rank and file. 82 % respond positively on that the C.I. is integrated by a multidisciplinary group and its purpose is the prevention of hospital infections. Conclusions: despite the overall knowledge that exists about nosocomial infections, ICs and the role of the nurse in infection control, deficiencies were detected in the knowledge regarding the involvement of the committee in training on the use of the epidemiological method and providing directives to the committee. There is no basis for the election of the nursing representative within the committee