Registered nurses’ antimicrobial stewardship roles: a qualitative descriptive exploratory study

Anecita Gigi Lim; Jennifer Woods; Brenda Waite

doi:10.1071/HC24080

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Registered nurses’ antimicrobial stewardship roles: a qualitative descriptive exploratory study

Anecita Gigi Lim

¹ ^* , Jennifer Woods ¹ ^§ , Brenda Waite ¹

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, University of Auckland, Building 502, Grafton Campus, Auckland, New Zealand. Email: jennifer.woods@auckland.ac.nz, br-enda.waite@auckland.ac.n-z

^* Correspondence to: g.lim@auckland.ac.nz

Handling Editor: Felicity Goodyear-Smith

Journal of Primary Health Care https://doi.org/10.1071/HC24080

Submitted: 11 June 2024 Accepted: 5 October 2024 Published: 29 October 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Introduction

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a global initiative aimed at promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a critical global health threat. In New Zealand, over 95% of antibiotics are prescribed in the community, with estimates suggesting that half of these prescriptions are for self-limiting respiratory infections, contributing significantly to AMR. Registered nurses (RNs), especially nurse practitioners and designated nurse prescribers, are well-positioned to play a pivotal role in AMS efforts due to their accessibility and broad skill set. However, their potential remains underutilised in AMS programmes.

Aim

This study aimed to explore the role of New Zealand Māori and non-Māori registered nurses as antimicrobial stewards within the New Zealand health care system.

Methods

The current knowledge and involvement in activities that mitigate the risks of infectious diseases and AMR of registered nurses was assessed. The educational and organisational support needed to enhance their leadership and engagement in AMS initiatives were identified.

Results

Findings highlight the need for targeted AMS education, greater participation in stewardship activities, and clarity in RN roles in collaboration with other health care professionals. This research underscores the importance of empowering registered nurses through education and organisational support to strengthen AMS and mitigate the growing threat of AMR.

Discussion

This study provides key insights into the leadership potential of RNs in AMS and offers recommendations for future policy and education strategies to optimise their role in New Zealand’s health care.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, care, clinical practice, health system, leadership, registered nurses, role, safety, support.

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