American Sentinel University’s E-book Helps Nurses Reduce Most Common Hospital-acquired Infections

American Sentinel University’s free e-book, ‘Are You Prepared to Identify and Prevent the Three Infections That Make Up Two-Thirds of All Healthcare-associated Infections?’ is a go-to guide to help nurses minimize the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) risk factors and details basic prevention measures that every nurse should know to help prevent infections. The e-book is available for download at www.americansentinel.edu/HAIebook.

Hospitals are meant to be places of healing, yet every year an estimated 1.7 million Americans will develop an infection while hospitalized – and 99,000 patients will die from one, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

These secondary infections are not only devastating to the patient, but they also create an enormous financial burden on the healthcare system as a whole, with a total dollar cost between $28 and $33 billion a year. As a result, there has been a major push for prevention when it comes to these hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).

“Nurses play a key role in minimizing the occurrence of these infections,” says Elaine Foster, Ph.D., MSN, RN, Dean of Nursing and Healthcare Programs at American Sentinel University. “It’s important for nurses to be sure they do all they can to prevent HAIs from happening to their patients while saving their healthcare facility additional cost. This e-book is an excellent resource for nurses to review information about prevention and interventions for HAIs.”

The CDC estimates that three types of infections account for roughly two-thirds of all HAIs:

• Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
• Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)

American Sentinel has created a reference guide that outlines nursing’s role in preventing the three most common HAIs. Each type of infection has specific risk factors that nurses should be aware of, as well as core strategies for prevention (defined by the CDC as those that are backed by high levels of scientific evidence and have demonstrated feasibility.)

• Nurses are responsible for managing indwelling urinary catheters, and can effectively employ core strategies to help prevent CAUTIs. One goal is to minimize overall catheter use. Many hospitals have implemented protocols for nurse-directed removal of unnecessary catheters – these allow for nursing assessment and intervention without a physician’s order.
• With VAP, core prevention strategies focus on interrupting the three most common mechanisms by which it develops: the aspiration of secretions, the colonization of the aerodigestive tract, and the use of contaminated equipment. Nurses can be involved in all these strategies.
• To help prevent CLABSI, all nurses should be aware of the “central line bundle.” The term refers to a group of five evidence-based strategies (described below) for the insertion and management of central lines. When implemented together, the bundled strategies result in better outcomes than when each strategy is implemented individually.

“Our e-book explains the autonomous nursing actions that can prevent the incidence of HAIs. It was developed specifically for nurses. By outlining the nursing practices that catch potential problems before they occur, our guide supports nurses in their patient-advocacy role,” says Dr. Foster.

Download E-book to Learn How to Minimize & Prevent Infections
‘Are You Prepared to Identify and Prevent the Three Infections that Make Up Two-Thirds of all Healthcare-associated Infections?’ is a must read for nurses who want to learn how to use an evidence-based approach to preventing infections from happening. Download a copy at www.americansentinel.edu/HAIebook.

Nurses interested in planning, implementing, and evaluating infection prevention and control measures, should consider making this field their career specialty. As a first step, nurses can develop new skills and empower themselves with knowledge through an online RN to BSN/MSN degree or MSN degree with a specialization in infection control from American Sentinel University, an innovative, accredited provider of online nursing degrees.

About American Sentinel University

American Sentinel University delivers accredited online degree programs in nursing (BSN, MSN, and DNP) and healthcare management (MBA Healthcare, M.S. Information Systems Management, and M.S. Business Intelligence and Analytics). Its affordable, flexible bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), of One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 20036. The DNP program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) of 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Ga., 30326. The University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, DEAC, 1101 17th Street NW, Suite 808, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 234-5100, www.deac.org

In June 2016, the Higher Education Commission Board of Trustees voted to grant American Sentinel University the status of candidate for accreditation. Institutions seeking accreditation by HLC are required to complete a period of candidacy before being evaluated for full accreditation. To earn and maintain candidacy, American Sentinel must fully meet the Commission’s Eligibility Requirements and Assumed Practices and demonstrate the capacity to meet all the Criteria for Accreditation within the candidacy period.

Please note, the MBA Healthcare Project-Based program is pending review for inclusion in the university’s programs covered by the Higher Learning Commission designation of candidate for accreditation.

For required student consumer information, please visit: www.americansentinel.edu/doe