Implementing an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in the Intensive Care Unit by Engaging Critical Care Nurses

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Healthcare Management
• Nursing

Background:

• Multidrug-resistant organism infections pose a significant national health threat.
• Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs are crucial for combating antimicrobial resistance.
• Current AMS programs often lack the inclusion of critical care nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the overlooked value of intensive care nurses in AMS programs.
• To advocate for the integration of critical care nurses into AMS teams.
• To identify and address barriers preventing nurse participation in AMS.

Main Methods:

• Review of traditional AMS program structures and team composition.
• Analysis of the critical care nurse's role in patient monitoring and care coordination.
• Identification of existing nursing tasks aligned with AMS functions.

Main Results:

• Critical care nurses are well-educated, autonomous professionals with a unique perspective on patient care.
• Nurses already perform tasks that overlap with AMS functions.
• Perceived barriers have historically excluded nurses from AMS teams.

Conclusions:

• Engaging critical care nurses can significantly strengthen AMS programs.
• Removing barriers to nurse participation is essential for optimizing AMS effectiveness.
• Integrating nurses will lead to improved patient outcomes in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.