Pediatric nurses' perceptions of their role in antimicrobial stewardship: A focus group study

Abstract Purpose To explore pediatric nurses' perceptions of their role in antimicrobial stewardship. Design and methods Twelve focus group sessions were conducted at a freestanding children's hospital including 90 nurses across a range of settings, units, and years of experience. Transcripts of the focus group sessions were jointly coded, from which themes were developed. Results Specific nursing roles in antibiotic stewardship identified include: (1) advocating for the patient, (2) communicating with the team, (3) administering medications safely, (4) educating caregivers, and (5) educating themselves. Identified barriers hindering effective execution of these roles include inconsistent inclusion on rounds and lack of institutional protocols for antibiotic use. Conclusion Nurses easily identified numerous daily nursing tasks that fit within the framework of antimicrobial stewardship and desired additional education and engagement in antibiotic stewardship. Implications Engaging nurses could improve the structure of antibiotic stewardship programs and break down the barriers that keep nurses from fulfilling their role.