Teaching Infection Prevention Using Concept Mapping Learning Strategies

Infection prevention challenges are encountered in all hospital settings. Daily clinical interactions frequently expose nurses to microorganisms that can result in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) for a patient. The relationship between infections as a result of healthcare and susceptible patients has long been understood and although HAIs are preventable, they continue to be a peril to today's patients. Previous healthcare research has indicated that recognition by nurses regarding the importance of HAI prevention strategies is inconsistent (Siegel, Rhinehart, Jackson, Chiarello, & the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, 2007). Lack of adherence to infection prevention strategies was also identified as a concern for graduate nurses participating in the Intermountain Healthcare Urban South Region registered nurse residency program. As a result, this quality improvement infection prevention educational intervention was planned in collaboration with the Intermountain Healthcare Urban South Region residency program coordinator and infection preventionist. The quality improvement project describes the addition of a concept mapping learning strategy for infection prevention education of novice graduate nurses enrolled in the RN residency program. The project objective was to evaluate the use of a concept mapping learning strategy as an educational intervention to improve novice graduate nurses' critical thinking and prioritization skills regarding infection prevention. Results of the project indicate that the learning strategy intervention had a positive effect in improving novice graduate nurses' critical thinking, prioritization of nursing assessments and interventions related to infection prevention, and retention of infection prevention nursing care knowledge