Prevenção e controle de infecção: uma contribuição para a formação do enfermeiro

Abstract

This study deals with professional formation of nurses for prevention and control of nosocomial infections. It takes in consideration the needs of current professionals qualified to act on committees for control of nosocomial infection. Such infections have become a major public health problem, since not only do they embody the main causes of in-patient mortality but also increase assistential costs and offer renewed risks, making it necessary the setting of programs for infection prevention and control. Thus, this study surveys nurse formation programs and attempts to uncover and improve their curricula regarding control of hospital infections. To this end, a review of the literature on educational policies, nursing teaching and hospital infection was done. Then, an qualitative study was carried out, aiming at unveilling program contents and discussing them with nurses graduated from the Federal University of Santa Maria (FUSM). The 1988 and 1996 curriculum proposals were analyzed and then a preliminary proposal was drawn for the subject matter in question. This sketch was submitted to faculty members for discussion and approval. Finally, a new curriculum plan was drawn, where two new disciplines are suggested to be included in the FUSM Nursing Program: one to be offered in the third semester, with basic contents in Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections (PCNI); and the other, focusing contents on Nurse Practice in PCNI.