Roles of Infection Control Nurses in Provincial Hospitals
Rachadaporn Leela MNS*, Jittaporn Chittreecheur MSc**, Wanchai Moongtui PhD**, Wanchai Buppanharan MD***, Somwang Danchaivijitr MD****
Affiliation : *Ponesai Hospital,Roi Et, **Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ***Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vachira Hospital, Srinagarindviroj University, Bangkok, ****Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok
Objective : To study the roles of infection control nurses (ICNs) in provincial hospitals.
Materials and Methods : Interview using a semi-structured interview form.
Results : Nine hospitals were enrolled by stratified sampling and 11 ICNs were included. Interview was done
by the researcher during April and May 2002. All ICNs were female and in middle-aged group. Their mean
experience in IC was 6.4 + 4.5 years. All ICNs could perform their duties according the roles set by the
Department of Nursing in surveillance, personnel health, education, consultation, administration and quality
improvement. Only about one half had experience in outbreak investigation and research. The commonest
problems were excessive workload, lack of co-operation of medical personnel and lack of budget for immuni-
zation.
Conclusion : All sampled ICNs in provincial hospitals performed their roles except only one half were involved
in outbreak investigation and research.
Keywords : Roles, Infection control nurses, Provincial hospitals
