A pilot study for the development of a hospital-based immunization program

Adult immunization is often overlooked as an effective, cost-efficient means of preventing disease. Recently, support for the promotion of adult immunizations has grown in the healthcare community. One way of accomplishing timely immunization of adults is the concept of vaccinating patients before hospital discharge. This study compared two methods for implementation of a hospital-based immunization program. Six nursing units in a 500-bed community hospital participated. Three units integrated immunization into the jobs of the staff nurses and private physicians. On three units, immunizations were administered by a family nurse practitioner (FNP) who did assessments, orders, consents, injections, and documentation. After 3 months the two methods were compared. In the FNP protocol, 69 of 431 patients received vaccines. On the floors where physicians managed vaccines, 10 of 821 patients received vaccines. An ongoing immunization program continues to encourage vaccination before discharge and promotion of immunizations in the community.