Nosocomial infections: important acute care nursing-sensitive outcomes indicators

Clinical and cost burdens related to nosocomial infections continue to plague the US healthcare system. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and the immunocompromised are especially at risk. Current evidence suggests that because hospital stays are shorter, nosocomial infection rates per 1000 patients have actually increased. Nosocomial infections, specifically bacteremias, have been targeted by the American Nurses Association as outcomes that can be affected by nursing in acute care settings. Nursing staffing and practices recently have been linked to the incidence of nosocomial infections. Participation in national databases and benchmarking techniques can provide data-based evidence that nursing practice influences nosocomial infections. Advanced practice nurses are key to ensuring that evidence-based practice environments, in which data drive decision-making, can flourish so that nurses can identify and implement practices that can reduce the rates of nosocomial infections.