Beating the Bugs: The Development of an Infection Control Link Nurse Program Jodie Burr Infection Control Coordinator Womens and Childrens Hospital South Australia

What are ICLN/Ms ICLN/Ms are nurses/midwives that have dedicated time for infection control activities within their own clinical area ICLN/Ms are nurses/midwives that have dedicated time for infection control activities within their own clinical area They assist Infection Control Practitioners rather than are responsible for infection control programs They assist Infection Control Practitioners rather than are responsible for infection control programs

Examples of Duties Educating ward/unit staff Educating ward/unit staff Ensuring compliance with infection control guidelines Ensuring compliance with infection control guidelines Assisting with outbreaks or disease exposures Assisting with outbreaks or disease exposures Developing patient & staff information brochures Developing patient & staff information brochures Promoting infection control initiatives Promoting infection control initiatives

Background External auditors conducted a review of infection control practices in SA Metropolitan Public Hospitals in 2002 External auditors conducted a review of infection control practices in SA Metropolitan Public Hospitals in 2002 Recommendations from review included expansion of existing ICLN Program to other metropolitan public hospitals Recommendations from review included expansion of existing ICLN Program to other metropolitan public hospitals

Background The SA Department of Health (Metropolitan Health Division) provided funding for 15 FTE ICLNs The SA Department of Health (Metropolitan Health Division) provided funding for 15 FTE ICLNs Training provided by the Infection Control Service (DoH) Training provided by the Infection Control Service (DoH)

WCH ICLN/M Program Funding provided for 2.2FTE Funding provided for 2.2FTE 12 part time positions created 12 part time positions created Range 0.1 – 0.4 FTE Range 0.1 – 0.4 FTE Paediatric Medicine Division Paediatric Medicine Division Paediatric Surgical Division Paediatric Surgical Division Womens & Babies Division Womens & Babies Division Anaesthetics & Theatres Division Anaesthetics & Theatres Division Medical Imaging Division Medical Imaging Division

Challenges Initial commencement of Program Initial commencement of Program No guidelines on how to proceed No guidelines on how to proceed Employment / Contracts Employment / Contracts Rostering Rostering Funding Funding Initial training / orientation Initial training / orientation

Challenges Support & direction for new roles Support & direction for new roles Diversity of areas Diversity of areas Physical Physical Access to a dedicated room, desk, computer, printer, stationary Access to a dedicated room, desk, computer, printer, stationary No other SA Hospitals to benchmark with due to specialization of WCH No other SA Hospitals to benchmark with due to specialization of WCH

Challenges Time to support & assist individual ICLN/Ms Time to support & assist individual ICLN/Ms Impact on an already demanding work load Impact on an already demanding work load Regular times to meet Regular times to meet Some ICLN/Ms more forthright in needs Some ICLN/Ms more forthright in needs

Challenges Identifying communication methods Identifying communication methods / internal mail / internal mail Rosters Rosters Networked computers Networked computers Intranet Intranet

Challenges Ensuring continual ICLN/M motivation Ensuring continual ICLN/M motivation Succession planning Succession planning Dedicated time and space Dedicated time and space Educational opportunities Educational opportunities Recognition for work Recognition for work

Challenges Promoting the WCH ICLN/Ms throughout the hospital: Promoting the WCH ICLN/Ms throughout the hospital: Hospital wide newsletter Hospital wide newsletter Area specific newsletters Area specific newsletters Morning teas Morning teas Display boards Display boards

Outcomes Increase in communication between Clinical Units & Infection Control Unit Increase in communication between Clinical Units & Infection Control Unit Increase in staff & patient awareness of infection control principles Increase in staff & patient awareness of infection control principles Development of links with other hospitals Development of links with other hospitals Improvement in rates of infection and compliance with infection control practices Improvement in rates of infection and compliance with infection control practices

Outcomes-ICLN/Ms Increase in leadership skills Increase in leadership skills Increase in confidence Increase in confidence Increase in knowledge and skills Increase in knowledge and skills Presenting at state-wide conferences/seminars Presenting at state-wide conferences/seminars Graduate certificate in infection control Graduate certificate in infection control Membership (+ Executive Committee) Infection Control Association of SA Membership (+ Executive Committee) Infection Control Association of SA

Future leadership challenges Extending the ICLN/M program Extending the ICLN/M program Intravenous Line Link Nurse Intravenous Line Link Nurse Immunization Link Nurse Immunization Link Nurse Promotion of the WCH as a leader in infection control Promotion of the WCH as a leader in infection control ¼ promotional events ¼ promotional events Conferences Conferences