For infection control strategies to be effective and impactful, they must have the buy-in and support of everyone on the healthcare team — from healthcare professionals who directly interact with and provide bedside assistance on the floor to nurse leaders who ensure that nurses get the organizational support they need to perform their duties.

We previously discussed how nurse managers and nurses can help nursing homes maintain safety and compliance via standard precautions. In this article, we outline the role of nurse administrators, explain their significance in infection control, and include a handy infection control checklist for nurse administrators, allowing them to help prevent infections from spreading in healthcare settings.  

Nurse administrators: An overview

Nurse administrators are experienced registered nurses (RNs) who handle leadership, policy-making, scheduling, staffing, budgeting, hiring, and organizational tasks. On top of their years of wide-ranging nursing experience, nurse administrators typically hold advanced degrees, such as a master’s of science in nursing or a doctoral degree.

Effective nurse administrators must possess both technical skills and leadership skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, to help nurses thrive in the workplace and promote outstanding patient care outcomes.

The crucial role nurse administrators play in safety and infection control

Nurse administrators are responsible for supporting and bolstering patient and nurse safety. They are responsible for developing and implementing policies and protocols that promote evidence-based practices, reducing and preventing adverse events, and supporting the well-being of patients and employees.

They also play a vital role in fostering a culture of open communication that encourages employees to talk openly and respectfully, where healthcare professionals can raise concerns without fear of reprisal and treat errors and near-misses as opportunities for improvement.

Infection control checklist for nurse administrators

Here’s a list of vital things to consider adding to your nurse administrator checklist for infection control rounds:

Organizational and leadership support
✅	Review the infection prevention plan and ensure that it clearly outlines the scope of responsibility for all staff members, risk assessment, and plans and goals.
✅	Keep the infection control plan updated with current and available evidence-based guidelines and protocols.
✅	Ensure that the emergency preparedness plan is up to date.
✅	Ensure that adequate resources and supplies are provided to the infection control team.
✅	Ensure that the infection control team can carry out the entirety of the infection control plan with full authority.

 

Education and training
✅	Mandate basic and specialized infection control education and training for all healthcare staff members for all tasks.
✅	Mandate yearly infection control refresher courses and training sessions.
✅	Provide training for observed lapses in infection control adherence as needed.
✅	Provide training for newly recognized infection transmission threats as needed.
✅	Mandate that all employees receive an infection control orientation for newly hired personnel.
✅	Provide educational materials on infection control for patients, families, and visitors.

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
✅	Ensure that policies pertaining to (PPE) are included in the infection control plan, including its indications, selection, donning, removal, and disposal.
✅	Ensure that PPE is readily available in all patient care areas in sufficient quantities and proper qualities.
✅	Mandate training on proper usage of PPE to follow transmissions-based precautions and safety procedures.

 

Performance monitoring and surveillance
✅	Oversee compliance to the infection control plan.
✅	Ensure that feedback on infection control adherence is promptly, accurately, and appropriately given.
✅	Ensure that performance monitoring staff members are properly trained and use standardized tools and metrics.

 

 

 

Exposure or outbreak investigations
✅	Verify if an exposure or outbreak has occurred.
✅	Promptly notify leadership, units, facilities, and health department through official notification channels.
✅	Enforce infection control plan and monitor adherence.
✅	Ensure that the infection control team activates investigation forms line list and contact tracing within 24 to 48 hours.
✅	Perform inspections, interviews, and audits during and after the incident/event.
✅	Conduct necessary education and training sessions.

 

Employee health program
✅	Ensure that policies and procedures are created and written regarding employees’ health-related issues.
✅	Ensure that pre-employment counseling, screening, and immunization measures are implemented via a special clinic for employees.
✅	Ensure that there are policies and procedures created and written for post-exposure management and work restrictions.
✅	Ensure that appropriate vaccines are administered to staff members.
✅	Ensure that employees can report, follow up, and manage sharps injuries, infectious illnesses, and other exposures via an active electronic system.