Date of Conferral
2021
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Dr. Anna Hubbard
Abstract
AbstractHealth care-associated infections (HCAIs) affect millions of people worldwide, causing morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent HCAIs. This project addressed a gap in practice regarding nurses’ knowledge on the effective use of hand hygiene in a medical/surgical unit in a hospital located in northeastern Maryland. This project addressed the question of whether an educational program on handwashing for nurses reduced HCAI rates. A literature review was conducted to support the development of the educational program; relevant sources included peer-reviewed journal articles, systematic reviews, and guidelines that supported the practice-focused question, with search dates ranging from 2015 to 2020. After receiving approval from the facility and from Walden’s institutional Review Board, using analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model as a guide, an educational program was designed with input from content experts. A 60 minute in person presentation was provided to registered nurses on the medical/surgical unit following social distancing guidelines. The Hand Hygiene Knowledge Questionnaire for Healthcare Workers was administered to 52 registered nurses as a pretest and posttest. Data analysis using a paired t test indicated, that after the training session, nurses’ knowledge about hand hygiene improve in all areas measured. This project has the potential to promote positive social change, in that nurses who receive education through the project may disseminate the information to other nurses and the nursing students whom they precept.
Recommended Citation
Osegbe, Maureen N., "Reducing Infection Rates Through Handwashing Education" (2021). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 10528.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/10528
