Optimized nursing management in the Central Sterile Supply Department and Gastroenterology Department: a retrospective controlled study

Objective: To evaluate the impact of optimized nursing management involving the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) and Gastroenterology Department on sterilization processes, nurse well-being, and patient satisfaction.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 40 CSSD nurses and sterilization metrics for 1,017 gastroenterology instruments before and after implementing optimized management. The study included a control group (CG) prior to the intervention and an experimental group (EG) after. Additionally, 216 gastroenterology patients were included in the CG, while 220 were in the EG. Data were collected between January 2021 and December 2022 at the General Hospital of Central Theater Command. Indicators such as instrument sterilization performance, CSSD nurses' work stress and burnout, and patient satisfaction with cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization processes were assessed. Nurses' job satisfaction was also evaluated.

Results: After implementing optimized management, significant improvements were observed in the qualified rate of instrument cleaning, reduced instrument damage, improved packaging quality, and decreased incidence of hospital-acquired infections (all P<0.05). CSSD nurses experienced lower work pressure and burnout, while both patient satisfaction with sterilization processes and nurses' job satisfaction increased significantly (all P<0.05).

Conclusion: Optimizing nursing management in the CSSD and Gastroenterology Department effectively enhances sterilization outcomes, reduces CSSD nurses' work stress and burnout, and improves both patient and nurse satisfaction with medical device cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization processes.