Nursing Home Infection Preventionists During COVID-19
Author Information
Author(s): Vogelsmeier Amy, Popejoy Lori, Miller Steven, Young Lisa, Johnson Alisha, Thompson Roy
Primary Institution: University of Missouri
Hypothesis
What is the role of infection preventionists in U.S. nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Conclusion
Infection preventionists in nursing homes had varied roles during the pandemic, often prioritizing other clinical duties over their infection prevention responsibilities.
Supporting Evidence
- Most nursing homes assigned infection prevention duties to existing clinical roles.
- COVID-related duties included reporting testing and administering vaccinations.
- Many infection preventionists felt their other clinical roles took priority over infection prevention tasks.
Takeaway
Infection preventionists help keep nursing homes safe from infections, but during COVID-19, they often had to do other jobs too.
Methodology
Interviews were conducted with leaders and infection preventionists in 24 nursing homes and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in reporting due to the prioritization of other clinical roles over infection prevention duties.
Limitations
The study may not fully capture the experiences of all nursing homes due to the purposive selection of homes.
Participant Demographics
Participants included registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and a respiratory therapist with varied education levels.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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