Roles of Infection Control Nurses in Royal Thai Army Hospitals
Yawares Chaisombat MNS*, Wanchai Moongtui PhD**, Poonsap Soparat MSc**, Wanchai Buppanharan MD***, Somwang Danchaivijitr MD****
Affiliation : *Kawila Camp Hospital, **Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ***Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vachira Hospital, Srinagarindviroj University, Bangkok, ****Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok
Objective : To study the performance according to the assigned roles of infection control nurses (ICNs) in
Royal Thai Army hospitals.
Materials and Methods : Interviewing ICNs in 6 hospitals.
Results : During April and May 2002, 11 ICNs in 6 hospitals were interviewed. Two hospitals had been
accredited and 4 were applying for hospital accreditation. Full-time ICNs were identified in 5 and part-time
in 6. The ICNs were graduated with bachelor and master degrees in 5 and 6 respectively. Two ICNs graduated
with master degree in IC. All could perform their roles in administration, education, surveillance, personnel
health, consultation and quality improvement. Only 7 ICNs had experience in outbreak investigation. None
were principle investigators in research except for their master degrees. The main problem was the absence of
ICNs posts in all except 1 hospital.
Conclusion : Infection control nurses in Royal Thai Army hospitals in the present study could perform their
roles according to assignment except involvement in outbreak investigation in some and in research as the
principle investigators in all.
Keywords : Roles, Infection control nurses, Army hospitals
