Evidence-based initiative to improve influenza immunisation participation among undergraduate nursing students

Abstract

This evidence-based practice study presents the outcome of specific intervention strategies that have been implemented to improve the immunisation status among undergraduate nursing students in a local university. These interventions included education about the importance of the influenza vaccine, email reminders about convenient times and influenza clinic locations, raffles, and an appeal to the moral responsibility that healthcare personnel have to their patients to increase immunisation. Despite these strategies, the overall percentage of nursing students receiving the influenza immunisation only slightly improved: from 43.1% (influenza season 2010–2011) to 46.3% (influenza season 2011–2012). Similar outcomes have been found with employers who have sought to improve employee influenza immunisation rates without mandating immunisation. Given the clinical settings where students are engaged, schools of nursing, regulatory agencies, and clinical sites should not overlook the impact of students on patients regarding influenza. In order to promote patient welfare, while employer-mandated influenza immunisation as a condition for employment becomes more prevalent, perhaps a similar approach may be required to promote influenza immunisation among nursing students.