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Infection Prevention Program for New Graduate Nurses in Acute Care Settings
College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at Arlington
NURS 4325: RN-BSN Nursing Research
April 26th , 2025
, 2
Infection Prevention Program for New Graduate Nurses in Acute Care Settings
Infection control remains critical to patient safety, particularly in acute care settings where
newly licensed nurses practice. The PICO(T) question for this evidence-based project is: In registered
nurses with less than two years of experience working in acute care medical-surgical units, what is the
effect of a 4-week infection prevention program on adherence to infection control practices compared
with standard hospital orientation over 12 weeks? According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC, 2023), approximately 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur each
year in U.S. hospitals, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths. The CDC also estimates that HAIs cost the
healthcare system between $28 billion and $45 billion annually (CDC, 2023). However, with the
implementation of a cost-effective 4-week infection prevention program, these costs could be
significantly reduced. New graduate nurses are at a higher risk for non-compliance due to limited clinical
experience, emphasizing the need for targeted infection prevention education. Accessed at:
https://www.cdc.gov/hai/data/index.html
Summary of Research Article
Tanseng, Unahalekhaka, Kasatpibal, and Viseskul (2023) conducted a quasi-experimental study
using a convenience sample from two tertiary hospitals in Thailand. Their research, which had a strong
practical focus, examined the effectiveness of a preventive nursing program in reducing the transmission
of multidrug-resistant organisms among nurses. Findings indicated that nurses who completed the
structured infection prevention program demonstrated significantly higher adherence to infection
control practices, including improved hand hygiene and proper use of personal protective equipment
(PPE), than those who received standard training. The incidence rate of MDRO transmissions was also
significantly lower in the intervention group.
The independent variable in this study was participation in the preventive nursing program.
Conceptually, infection prevention training was defined as structured education focused on evidence-
Infection Prevention Program for New Graduate Nurses in Acute Care Settings
College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at Arlington
NURS 4325: RN-BSN Nursing Research
April 26th , 2025
, 2
Infection Prevention Program for New Graduate Nurses in Acute Care Settings
Infection control remains critical to patient safety, particularly in acute care settings where
newly licensed nurses practice. The PICO(T) question for this evidence-based project is: In registered
nurses with less than two years of experience working in acute care medical-surgical units, what is the
effect of a 4-week infection prevention program on adherence to infection control practices compared
with standard hospital orientation over 12 weeks? According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC, 2023), approximately 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur each
year in U.S. hospitals, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths. The CDC also estimates that HAIs cost the
healthcare system between $28 billion and $45 billion annually (CDC, 2023). However, with the
implementation of a cost-effective 4-week infection prevention program, these costs could be
significantly reduced. New graduate nurses are at a higher risk for non-compliance due to limited clinical
experience, emphasizing the need for targeted infection prevention education. Accessed at:
https://www.cdc.gov/hai/data/index.html
Summary of Research Article
Tanseng, Unahalekhaka, Kasatpibal, and Viseskul (2023) conducted a quasi-experimental study
using a convenience sample from two tertiary hospitals in Thailand. Their research, which had a strong
practical focus, examined the effectiveness of a preventive nursing program in reducing the transmission
of multidrug-resistant organisms among nurses. Findings indicated that nurses who completed the
structured infection prevention program demonstrated significantly higher adherence to infection
control practices, including improved hand hygiene and proper use of personal protective equipment
(PPE), than those who received standard training. The incidence rate of MDRO transmissions was also
significantly lower in the intervention group.
The independent variable in this study was participation in the preventive nursing program.
Conceptually, infection prevention training was defined as structured education focused on evidence-
