Date of Conferral
8-11-2026
Date of Award
August 2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Tracy Andrews
Abstract
This organization change process initiative addressed a critical safety practice gap regarding catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention in a 450-bed acute care facility. This gap was recognized based on evidence that the facility’s CAUTI Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR) was above the national benchmark—and daily necessity assessment compliance of only approximately 50%. This gap was attributed to an organizational interprofessional culture, which hindered timely device removal. Prolonged catheter dwell times increase patient morbidity, extend hospital stays, and expose the organization to severe financial penalties. The project aimed to safely reduce device dwell times by structurally empowering bedside nurses. I used a pre- and post-implementation comparative design to evaluate the impact of an interprofessional, checklist-integrated education program combined with a Nurse-Driven Protocol (NDP). By integrating the HOUDINI removal criteria directly into the electronic health record (EHR) alongside an automated 72-hour hard stop, the initiative aimed to successfully bypass traditional hierarchical delays. Post-implementation results were highly encouraging. Daily assessment compliance surged to 89%, and the CAUTI SIR dropped to 0.85, exceeding the primary objective of achieving an SIR below 1.0. Beyond clinical metrics, this initiative champions positive social change by promoting health equity. By automating evidence-based removal criteria, the facility ensured that every patient, regardless of socioeconomic background or health literacy, received equitable, prompt, and high-quality preventative care.
Recommended Citation
Owolabi, Bolatito, "An Interprofessional Organization Change Process to Reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20635.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20635
