Date of Conferral

8-28-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Camilla Jaekel

Abstract

The timely and accurate collection of blood culture specimens is essential for improving patient outcomes and minimizing complications. Contaminated specimens can lead to unnecessary antibiotic use, prolonged hospital stays, and delays in appropriate treatment. At one eastern healthcare facility, monthly blood culture contamination rates reached an average of 4.5%, prompting the need for a targeted intervention. The objective of this project was to determine whether a structured process and trained team could reduce contamination rates to below 1%. De-identified data were reviewed using descriptive statistics to observe contamination trends over time, by department, and by month. Using the t-test, contamination rates were measured before and after implementation. The average contamination rate during the five-month pre-intervention period was 1.86% (SD = 0.934%, range = 0.6%–1.7%). In the 7 months following implementation, the average rate decreased to 0.93% (SD = 0.451%, range = 0%–1.4%). The results were statistically significant (p = 0.031). This outcome supports the use of a dedicated team and checklist-driven process for blood culture collection to improve specimen quality and patient safety. The findings contribute to nursing practice by reinforcing the value of evidence-based, nurse-led quality improvement initiatives. Furthermore, the intervention promotes positive social change by supporting equitable, patient-centered care that aligns with the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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