Analysis of a Peer-Reviewed Article on Nursing Role in Antibiotic Stewardship

Nurses play a vital role in antibiotic stewardship. Kirby et al. (2020) assert the criticality of nurses in antibiotic stewardship. The heavy involvement of nurses in infectious disease management, including their roles in prescribing, administering, and preparing antibiotics, makes them invaluable in antibiotic stewardship. They, therefore, play a role in optimizing antibiotic use and encouraging the rational use of these agents. Nurse-centered antimicrobial stewardship has also been perceived as an extension of nursing advocacy, fundamental for all baccalaureate-trained nurses. The author provides sufficient evidence that highlights nursing roles in antibiotic stewardship. These findings are also consistent with the functionalities of a nurse in the contemporary nursing practice field. Nurses are central in infectious disease management and, therefore, bear greater accountability for how antibiotics are used by their patients.

The reliability of this data can be assessed based on the currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose criteria. The information obtained from this source is current and accurate as it draws its findings and conclusions from scientific research and peer-reviewed evidence. These findings are also relevant as they detail the intrinsic role of nurses in antibiotic stewardship. The author of the article also states the reason this study exists and how it influences nursing practice, highlighting its purpose. This source thus meets the reliability criteria.

Several barriers, however, impede nurses’ efficiency in antibiotic stewardship. McEwen & Burnett (2019) report the inadequacy of some undergraduate nursing training programs in educating learners on antibiotic stewardship. This may lower nurses’ efficiency and accountability in the judicious administration of antibiotics. Resistance to current alteration and modification of prescribing and administration practices of antibiotics has also been implicated in antibiotic resistance. This jeopardizes current efforts to ensure sound antibiotic use. Other barriers to antibiotic resistance that have been identified are limited diagnostic capabilities in healthcare systems across low- and middle-income countries, limited availability of antibiotics, and the high cost of some antibiotics that restrict their access.

Nursing standards of professional practice give specific emphasis on antibiotic stewardship. These standards maintain effectiveness in improving patient and community outcomes by lessening antibiotic resistance (Wiley & Villamizar, 2019). Antibiotic stewardship has long been perceived as an extension of nursing advocacy and educator roles. As health advocates, nurses remain accountable for the judicious use of antibiotics as a measure for ensuring healthy communities. As health educators, nurses play a role in educating their patients on the rational use of antibiotics. This is part of their collective and fundamental responsibilities to ensure safe communities and promote their health.

Nurses also play a critical role in policy-making targeting to lessen antibiotic resistance. Hajizadeh et al. (2021) assert that nurses can leverage their advocacy skills to influence policies that result in positive changes in healthcare. In this regard, nurses can voice for healthcare changes that promote leadership support, caregivers’ accountability, healthcare reporting, and tracking, which are critical for antibiotic stewardship.

Nursing theories are the basis on which nursing practices are grounded. Engagement with transcultural and diverse groups will be key during this practicum. The theory of trans-cultural caring postulates the need for nurses to understand diversity in healthcare and how to engage with different groups. Going to this practicum, the provision of this theory will equip nurses with the prerequisite skills required to engage diverse groups and how they can align their care approaches to the cultural considerations of these groups.