Registered nurses and influenza vaccination. An integrative review.

Influenza is a serious infectious disease, causing 226,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year. Since 1981, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all health care workers receive influenza vaccination annually. Current CDC reports indicate that only 40% of health care workers receive influenza vaccination. Vaccination rates are lower among registered nurses than other health care workers. This integrative review encompasses international research published between 2003 and 2009, and explores factors that influence nurses' decision to receive or decline influenza vaccination. Findings indicated that concerns about the vaccine's safety and efficacy continue to be major barriers for registered nurses. Future efforts to improve vaccination rates should include rigorous education on vaccine efficacy and safety specific to nursing personnel. Copyright 2010, SLACK Incorporated.