Mrs. Lisa Summers1
1Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Australia
Biography:
Lisa Summers is the Coordinator of Nursing for Infection Prevention and Management at Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Healthcare Group.
Abstract:
In 2024, Infection Prevention and Management (IPM) related risks were escalated via governance processes, finally culminated in a 67% increase in the IPM fulltime equivalent establishment, including a Clinical Nurse Specialist and three Clinical Nurses. More than twelve months on, the unit continued to experience staff attrition, low productivity, poor job satisfaction and low morale.
Method
Despite the increased workforce and recruitment, the failure to implement an IPM program illustrated the need to reevaluate and change. The senior IPM leads recognised they had been consumed by persistent high-risk priorities, external strategic demands, increasing healthcare associated infections (HCAI), and supporting the day-to-day IPM operations, without being able to progress an intended formal development program for new and novice IPM nurses. Referencing the organisational values, the author facilitated a team workshop with the goal of creating a team vision, defining expectations and responsibilities and agreeing to key priorities. The workshop provided an opportunity to support honest conversations and feedback, building on trust and relationships.
Outcome
IPM have created a vision of being a trusted and collaborative partner, committed to empowering each other and the hospital to implement excellence in care to prevent antimicrobial resistance and HCAI. The process has resulted in, increased engagement, a positive feedback culture and decisions informed and aligned with our priorities.