Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Diane K. Whitehead

Abstract

Resistance to antibiotics has increased dramatically in the United States, with serious associated medical, social, and economic consequences. The purpose of this project was to assess nurse practitioners' attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge about antimicrobial stewardship and knowledge in the management of anaerobic infections as well as resistant gram-negative bacteremia. Data were collected using a web-based survey in a hospital facility. The practice question explored whether nurse practitioners' attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge about antimicrobial stewardship significantly increased after an education program on antimicrobial stewardship. The project was framed by Knowles's adult learning theory. A 16-item survey was administered before and after an education program to 11 advance practice nurses to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about antimicrobial stewardship. Seventy-seven percent of the respondents agreed that antibiotics are overused nationally, and 33% agreed that antibiotics are overused within the institution; 88.9% of respondents agreed that inappropriate use of antibiotics can harm patients and that inappropriate use of antibiotics causes antimicrobial resistance (87.5%). Overall, 55.5% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they were concerned about antimicrobial resistance in the community when prescribing antibiotics. Awareness of antimicrobial stewardship might contribute to social change by increasing the proper identification of organisms and the appropriate use of antibiotics, with the assistance of the antimicrobial stewardship programs, to help reduce the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

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