Date of Conferral

11-12-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Jill Walsh

Abstract

Abstract (as displayed in your dissertation/thesis): This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focused on developing a clinical practice guideline (CPG) and accompanying checklist to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in adult inpatients within a skilled nursing facility. CAUTIs represent the most prevalent healthcare-associated infections in both acute and long-term care environments, contributing to increased patient morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and elevated healthcare costs. A key issue identified was inconsistent adherence to evidence-based practices related to catheter insertion, maintenance, and timely removal—posing a significant threat to patient safety. The guiding practice question for this project was: Will a clinical practice guideline on preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections be approved by an expert panel of subject matter experts using the AGREE II tool? The primary purpose was to create a standardized, evidence-based CPG and checklist aligned with national recommendations and organizational priorities to enhance patient outcomes. To ensure methodological rigor and relevance, the AGREE II instrument was used to evaluate the quality of the CPG. Feedback was obtained from a panel of experts and end-users. Findings strongly supported the use of the CAUTI prevention CPG, with implementation of staff education, and continuous monitoring. Successful implementation was found to depend on stakeholder engagement, leadership support, and organizational readiness. The expert panel recommended implementing the CPG with minor local adaptations. Its adoption is anticipated to standardize nursing practices, reduce infection rates, and foster positive social change by advancing patient safety and promoting equitable care delivery.

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