Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Andrea Jennings-Sanders

Abstract

Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) has been widely studied because of its impact on patient morbidity, mortality, and overall health care costs. Research has shown that nurses' attitudes and perceptions regarding safety are critical to developing and maintaining clinical environments that are safe, prevent CLABSI, and assure better health outcomes. The practice-focused question for this project sought to determine the safety attitudes exhibited by registered nurses on a medical-surgical unit at the practice site. The Stetler model was used as a framework to guide the study. The Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) measured attitudes and perceptions regarding teamwork, safety, job satisfaction, management, stress recognition, and working conditions. Respondent understanding of CLABSI prevention was also measured. A nonrandomized purposeful sampling was used to invite nurses to participate in the study. A total of 61 nurses meeting inclusion criteria were invited to participate. Of those invited, 22 completed the survey, resulting in a 36% response rate. The survey consisted of a 36-item SAQ scale and a 5-item CLABSI prevention scale. The level of agreement on the 6 SAQ subscales ranged from a low of 3.3 to a high of 3.9 on a 5-point Likert scale. Perceptions regarding CLABSI prevention were notably higher at 4.26. When responses to specific questions were examined, low agreement was noted for (a) understanding who to direct questions to regarding patient safety, and (b) feeling the levels of staffing were adequate to care for the number of patients served. The number of years in nursing practice was associated with considerable variability in the 6 SAQ subscales. This project promotes positive social change by raising awareness of the safety culture associated with nursing care and for the prevention of CLABSI.

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