Project Firstline Celebrates Nurses Week
National Nurses Week, May 6-12, recognizes nurses for their service and dedication to caring for others and improving the health of patients. This year's theme "Nurses Make the Difference" works to honor exceptional nurses that embody both compassion and care in the healthcare setting. Nurses provide care through every stage of life and work with patients at their most intimate and vulnerable moments.
Reducing the risk of infection is essential for improving positive health outcomes in every health care setting and for every patient. The South Dakota Project Firstline (SD PFL) program provides infection prevention support and guidance to the health care team and recognizes the value of nurses within the healthcare workforce.
Rebecca Sime, RN, program manager for the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC) is part of the SDF PFL team that provides infection prevention education to health care facilities and professionals across the state. She has experience in long-term care facilities, critical access hospitals, emergency departments, dialysis centers, and even the operating room and is proud to share her infection prevention expertise with other nurses.
“My role at SD PFL allows me the opportunity to connect with all areas of healthcare when providing infection prevention education and training, which helps improve infection prevention outcomes across the state. Each of these settings are unique, and they all have one thing in common: a constant need to be thinking about infection prevention,” stated Sime.
Nurses continually monitor their patients and recognize the risk an infection presents to the healing process. Engaging the health care team in infection prevention and control practices reduces the risk of infection and promotes positive health outcomes.
Cheri Fast, RN, BSN, CIC, LTC-CIP, WOCN, program manager for SDFMC, added, “Educating nurses and the health care team on preventing the spread of organisms that cause infection by improving cleaning, disinfection, and the use of antibiotic practices will help reduce healthcare associated infections. Project Firstline has allowed us to open conversations on how to improve infection control and increase staff awareness of best practices.”
Nurses Week offers a chance to highlight and celebrate nurses working in every health care setting and field, including infection prevention and control. Infection prevention is essential for the health of individuals, populations, and communities.
“Being a part of the PFL team is vital to the health of South Dakota residents of all ages and encompasses an interdisciplinary healthcare collaboration relating to infection prevention,” added SD PFL team member Valerie Wagner, BSN, RN-PHN.