Associations between Nurse Experience, Clinical Specialty Setting, and Level of Nursing Education with Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines for Inpatient Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Administration

Abstract

Background: This research project examines associations between years of nursing practice and compliance with clinical practice guidelines for inpatient influenza/pneumococcal vaccination administration. Previous research demonstrates novice nurses are at higher risk for errors of omission and face challenges with critical thinking. Objectives: 1) Identify associations between years of practice and compliance with clinical practice guidelines for inpatient influenza/pneumococcal vaccination administration and 2) to identify associations among independent variables including levels of education, and specialty setting. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify associations between years of practice and compliance with clinical practice guidelines for inpatient influenza/pneumococcal vaccination administration. Aggregate data were obtained from the quality improvement coordinator of a 37 bed inpatient community hospital. A chi-squared analysis was used to identify the relationship between variables. Results: There were sixty-three Registered Nurses in this study with a compliance rate of 81.64%. We accepted the three null hypotheses. Nurse experience X 2 (1, N=50) =0.836, p=0.361, specialty setting X 2 (1, N=50) =0.836, p=0.361, level of education (ADN=35.30%, BSN and above = 44.40% X 2 (1, N=44) =0.863, p=0.36. Proficient/Expert=47.10%), specialty setting (Med-Surg= 39.40%, ICU=52.90%), level of education (ADN=35.30%, \u3eBSN = 44.40%). Conclusion: This project will serve as a basis for future quality improvement projects to improve compliance with vaccination administration. A significant finding was compliance among these groups being \u3c 50% (compliance was defined at \u3e90%). Overall compliance with nurse experience 45.20% (Novice = 42.90%, Competent =45.50%, No statistically significant associations were found between compliance based on nurse experience, clinical specialty setting, and education level