Becker's Hospital Review

26 CMO / CARE DELIVERY Hospitals can scale back hand hygiene monitoring: 4 study notes By Elizabeth Gregerson S ome evidence shows hospital infection preventionists may be able to spend less time monitoring hand hygiene, according to a study published Dec. 19 in the American Journal of Infection Control. Current Leapfrog Survey standards and other accrediting bodies require healthcare facilities to observe 100 to 200 hand hygiene observations per month per patient care unit, according to a Dec. 19 news release from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. Researchers from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology evaluated 390,371 hand hygiene observations collected from 29 hospital facilities in 2023 to analyze adherence levels for the study. Here are four notes from the study's findings: 1. Researchers evaluated statistical differences in adherence data from 25, 50, 100 and 150 observations against 200 observations. 2. The rate of hand hygiene compliance adherence found in 50 observations was comparable to the rate found in 200 observations. 3. Reducing the number of required hand hygiene observations to 50 per unit per month could save hospitals $50,000 annually, the release said. 4. "If the participating hospitals were allowed to place less effort on meeting a specific hand hygiene observation number and more effort on feedback, training/education, infrastructure and culture, they could potentially create a culture that fosters and encourages the importance of HH without the burden of the high number required for the monitoring domain," lead study investigator Sara Reese, PhD, said in the release. n More men are entering nursing: 7 trends leaders should know By Mariah Taylor C urrently, men make up about 10% of nurses, but that number is steadily growing — and it could mean a brighter future for hospitals and health systems. Karen Cox, PhD, RN, began her career as a licensed practical nurse before working her way up to chief nursing officer and COO at Children's Mercy Kansas City (Mo.) — titles she held for 24 years. Now, she serves as president of Chicago-based Chamberlain University. "As the largest nursing school in the country, we have the opportunity to make a substantial impact, and we're committed to continuing to grow the number of men in nursing," she told Becker's. "By doing so, we hope to have an outsized impact on addressing the nursing shortage and reshaping perceptions of the profession." Here are seven trends Dr. Cox has noticed about men in nursing in the last few years: 1. Last fall, Chamberlain had more than 4,200 male students enrolled in its nursing program. In the last three years, it has awarded more than 4,500 degrees and certificates to men, including both pre-licensure and post-licensure students. Minneapolis-based Walden University, its sister organization, focuses on post-licensure programs and had more than 2,100 male students and awarded 729 nursing degrees and certificates to men in the same time period. 2. More men have flocked to nursing in recent years, partially thanks to the impact of COVID-19. "While nurses have always been appreciated, the pandemic highlighted how much nurses need to know the science, exercise critical judgment, and work fairly independently to make important decisions in patient care," Dr. Cox said. "is has helped dismantle outdated stereotypes that nursing is something [at which] women are naturally better. It's also helped to highlight that men are equally capable." 3. Two groups of men are increasingly shiing to nursing: men with military backgrounds, especially medics or registered nurses, and first responders, such as EMTs and paramedics. 4. Traditionally, men gravitated toward critical care areas such as ICUs, emergency departments and operating room settings. However, men are increasingly going into more specialties. Men are also showing an increased interest in becoming certified registered nurse anesthetists. 5. Men in nursing face challenges in perception from co-workers and patients. "Men entering nursing oen encounter skepticism, either from others or themselves, about whether it's a profession they should pursue," Dr. Cox said. "Male nursing students may [also] face initial hesitancy from patients, but this typically disappears once patients interact with these extraordinary students and see their skills." Systems can break down these barriers by showcasing the men in nursing through internal stories, promotions and DAISY awards, she said. 6. Men in nursing could be the solution to the nursing shortage for many systems. Currently, men make up 10% to 12% of nurses, Dr. Cox said, and increasing that number to 20% over the next five years could alleviate the nurse shortage for many. 7. Recruiting more men to the nursing profession starts at two key entry points: high school and second careers. First, representation matters when sending staff to high schools to attract talent, so sending a young man in nursing can increase the chances of recruiting more young men, Dr. Cox said. Second, many men find nursing aer realizing their initial careers feel unfulfilling or lack meaningful societal impact. Men oen arrive at nursing because of its opportunities, leadership potential and the chance to make a meaningful impact, she added. n

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