Teaching of Health Care-Related Infections within an Integrated Nursing Curriculum

Abstract

Health care-related infections have become an issue of paramount importance in the health care field. Their rates are high in many parts of the world and the adherence of health care professionals to prevention and control measures still involves a minority of them. This study aims to analyze how the teaching on the theme health care-related infections takes place within an integrated Nursing curriculum. This is a qualitative research carried out through documentary analysis of the teaching plans adopted in interdisciplinary modules and interviews conducted with professors. Data collection took place in 2012. To deepen the analysis, we used Edgar Morin’s theoretical framework. We found out that the formal teaching on the theme was conducted in a theoretical and practical way, and there were some contradictions between what professors reported and what was recorded in the teaching plans. Given the complexity of health care-related infections, we hope that this study contributes so that professors dealing with Health Sciences think through their education practices, seeking to systematize this theme with a view to training professionals committed to prevention measures and infection control. We advocate for including the theme in a cross-sectional way into the curriculum to educate nurses and the other health care professionals.