Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Allison Terry

Abstract

Central line-associated bloodstream infections continue to be some of the most deadly hospital-associated infections in the United States. Guided by Lewin's change theory which focuses on prior learning, rejection, and replacement, the purpose of this study was to improve the quality of care patients receive in an acute care facility by reducing life threatening central line infections. The research question examined whether additional education using Venous Access Nurse (VAN) customized newsletters and manager coaching of nurses in an acute care setting would improve the quality of care for patients with central lines. This was a quantitative nonexperimental descriptive retrospective study using secondary analysis of a hospital dataset. This dataset included variables relating to nurse tenure and nurse performance after reeducation and coaching on managing central lines. Variables from 450 of 1,300 nurses were analyzed in the current study at a 750 bed system in a southwestern healthcare system in Florida. The pre and post audits consisting of contributing factors were obtained from the VAN audits and post audits consisting of contributing factors were obtained from the Van audits and were calculated with descriptive statistics. There were a decrease from 19.1% of the lines audited having 1 or more deviations from the guidelines to 3.5%. Nurses with 2 to 5 years of tenure had a greater number of deviations from the guidelines' standard for managing central lines as compared to staff with a lesser or greater amount of tenure. Positive social change implications include knowledge useful for staff nurse educators and other researchers who are searching for direction in improving health care associated infection rates to provide a better quality of life, decrease costs, and increase safety.

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

 
COinS