Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Barbara Gross

Abstract

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common hospital-acquired illness. Insertion and maintenance of urinary catheters are critical factors that predispose patients to CAUTI. Studies have shown that many nurses have a knowledge deficit regarding evidence-based practices in the insertion and management of urinary catheters, which can help prevent CAUTI. This is a concern because nurses are typically the first point of contact with patients and are responsible for the promotion of evidence-based practice and preventative measures. Therefore, this project aimed to develop an educational intervention for nurses with a focus on proper insertion and maintenance of indwelling urinary catheters. Lewin’s theory of planned change was used to provide the theoretical framework. The education program was developed based on recommended practices for CAUTI prevention and management. A paired t-test was used to analyze the differences in the knowledge scores of the nurses before and after the intervention (n=62). The average knowledge score of the participants improved significantly following the provision of the intervention by 11.4% (95% CI: 9.7, 13.0; p < 0.001) while CAUTI rates decreased by 55%. The findings show that educating nurses on evidence-based practices on catheter insertion, maintenance, and timely removal is an effective approach to decreasing CAUTI rates. The reduction in CAUTI rates can promote social change by decreasing healthcare costs and length of hospital stay.

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