Date Available

4-12-2023

Year of Publication

2023

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Advisor

Dr. Sheila Melander

Committee Member

Dr. Candice Falls

Committee Member

Dr. Shelby Bliss

Co-Director of Graduate Studies

Dr. Kim Tharp-Barrie

Abstract

Background: Penicillin allergies are the most frequently reported drug allergy but less than 1% of the total population has a true immune-mediated allergy. Patients who are labeled as having a penicillin allergy may receive drugs that are less effective, more costly, and more toxic. The nurse driven penicillin allergy assessment tool strives to increase penicillin allergy de-labeling rates by pharmacists and providers.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to (1) perform a retrospective and prospective chart review to determine compliance rates with the nurse driven penicillin allergy assessment tool, (2) provide an education module on antibiotic stewardship and penicillin allergies, and (3) compare rates of antibiotic stewardship knowledge with a pre- and posttest in inpatient nurses.

Methods: In this nonrandomized case control, a two-part retrospective and prospective chart review to compare compliance rates with the nurse driven penicillin allergy assessment tool was performed in inpatients with a documented penicillin allergy at a hospital where nurses were offered an educational intervention compared to three hospitals that did not receive the intervention.

Results: Knowledge level of antibiotic stewardship and compliance rates with the penicillin allergy assessment tool increased at the hospital that received the education intervention; data analysis through SPSS indicated that both the change in knowledge level and compliance rate were statistically significant. There was no change in compliance rates and no statistical significance demonstrated at the three hospitals that did not receive the education intervention.

Conclusion: Providing an education intervention improved knowledge levels of antibiotic stewardship and compliance rates with the penicillin allergy assessment tool. It is recommended that the intervention be implemented at other hospitals and for all inpatient and outpatient nurses.

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