How State Board Nursing Practice Standards and Organizational or Governmental Policies Could Affect Antibiotic Resistance
Nursing standards of practice define the scope of nursing practice. It outlines the responsibilities of professional nurses. The American Nursing Association, various state legislatures, and the Department of Human and Health Services (HHS) emphasize the significance of nurses’ accountability and responsibility towards their patients. Through their advocacy roles, nurses maintain accountability for antimicrobial stewardship by ensuring the judicious use of antibiotics. Wiley & Villamizar (2019) note the effectiveness of nursing standards in antimicrobial stewardship. Through nursing advocacy roles, they can participate in policy-making processes that ensure sound prescribing of antibiotics and maintain their commitment to the prudent use of these agents.
Nursing roles in policy-making and commitment to voicing patient concerns warrant their sustained involvement in policy-making processes. Wiley & Villamizar (2019) emphasize the overall collective mandate of nurses to engage other stakeholders in voicing a specific point of concern. Through intense lobbying and engagement, nurses can successfully oversee the establishment of policies on antibiotic stewardship. These policies can help promote and preserve community lives against resistant strains of bacteria, reduce hospital readmissions, and generally improve outcomes.
Federal policies have also been vital in the fight against antibiotic resistance. The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services has developed regulations requiring care organizations within the U.S. to develop and implement antibiotic stewardship programs. Under these regulations, all care organizations are required to establish infection prevention and stewardship programs to receive reimbursements from CMS. State and federal policies on antibiotic stewardship also implore caregivers to utilize their knowledge to educate communities on rational antibiotic use. They are also expected to indulge in sound prescribing to promote the prudent use of these agents. In this regard, nurses must maintain accountability when preparing, administering, and prescribing antibiotics.