Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX8030: Building the Case for Healthcare Improvement
Prof Name
September, 2024
Slide 1: “Hello, my name is —, and today I’m going to talk about this very important issue of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in our institution. It is preventable but one of the causes of much morbidity among patients and lengths of stays in hospitals. This presentation will discuss evidence for change and potential interventions to reduce CAUTIs.”
Building the Case for Health Care Improvement
Slide 2: Building the case for healthcare improvement also involves the identification of patient safety issues critical to the quality of care to be improved, whether hospital-acquired infections or medication errors (Coles et al., 2020). In the process, a role for evidence-based practice is essential because it allows one to analyze, in addition to the findings of external research, why the change might be necessary based on internal data. If our attention were to be focused on one specific issue, for example, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)-we would then be able to see the internal challenges of an organization and supplement these with information from external literature that can actually result in effective interventions. This approach will guarantee resolution through evidence-based approaches in improving care outcomes and reducing possible risk factors.
Health Care Safety Problem
Slide 3: The rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in hospitals is a serious healthcare safety issue that requires more concern and keen monitoring (Abubakar et al., 2020). This occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the catheter, leading to infection and, in some cases, complications including sepsis, prolonged hospital stay, and increased health care costs. Despite being largely preventable, catheter-associated urinary tract infections are still one of the most significant healthcare-associated infections worldwide. The problem often continues due to prolonged usage of catheters, inappropriate technique of catheter insertion, and variability in monitoring. The impact of CAUTIs can result in reduced quality care delivery within healthcare facilities, where morbidity is increased and patients have poorer outcomes.
Slide 4: For instance, for one patient who was admitted to our hospital, several episodes of CAUTIs were caused by catheterization that had been unnecessarily prolonged. After the patient underwent several surgeries, he was kept in the ward for two more days for continued care without the removal of his catheter. This led to a complicated urinary tract infection that further complicated his stay. There have been internal assessments that indicate the presence of gaps in the catheter removal protocol and discrepancies in the training program for the nursing staff. Such an issue underscores a need for an overall intervention strategy that presents itself with an immediate urgency. Thus, the use of timely removal of catheters in conjunction with very strict adherence to the principles of sterile insertion has always proved better for curbing CAUTIs and for general care of patients.
External Sources Support for Need of Change
Slide 5: As put forth in external literature, the need for enhanced prevention methods regarding catheter-associated urinary tract infections is fundamental and very vast. According to research from the American Journal of Infection Control, CAUTIs constitute a significant proportion of healthcare-associated infections, causing a variety of complications, including long stays, extended morbidity, and higher healthcare costs (Hammoud et al., 2020). This research also comes out to show the need to adhere to evidence-based practices, in this case, timely catheter removal and improved insertion practices, which can result in a drastic decrease in CAUTI rates. The research shows directly that the issue of patient safety is therefore key in this respect by showing how adoption of best practices can drastically work to reduce the infections in question and sets out the need to step beyond the challenge in this area.
Slide 6: Another CDC source provides recommendations on avoiding CAUTIs, which include measures such as avoiding catheter placement and maintaining the indwelling use of catheters in patients. In addition, appropriate hand hygiene and strict sterile technique during insertion are recommended (McFee, 2020). The CDC guidelines report that these measures have helped in reducing the incidence of CAUTIs by up to 50% in many healthcare centers. This information is particularly relevant to the matter at hand as it suggests evidence-based recommendations regarding infection prevention and strengthens the call for improvement in managing catheter use to improve patient safety outcomes.
Importance and Urgency of Addressing Infection Prevention
Slide 7: A high-priority healthcare safety problem, catheter-associated urinary tract infections affect patient outcomes, costs, and quality of care (Lacotte et al., 2020). As stakeholders, this significant rate of CAUTIs raises much concern among those ranging from administration in healthcare to medical professionals because it leads to longer hospital stay times and higher cost treatments. These infections also strain the hospital resources, making fewer beds available and placing more pressure on the nurses. Hospital administrators are also penalized by insurance companies and regulatory bodies like Medicare through avoidable healthcare-associated infections. Therefore, CAUTIs must be addressed to ensure the best practices of care and avoid the financial implications of poor patient safety outcomes.
Slide 8: For patients and community members, the presence of CAUTIs is a factor that implies lower confidence in health services; thus, such infections pose severe complications in the form of sepsis, kidney damage, or even death (Van, 2022). Patients who suffer from these infections have to spend longer periods in recovery as well as be subjected to more invasive treatments which can alter their outlook concerning the experience level and the level of satisfaction with the care provided. For example, one of our patient examples is a patient who, during his surgery, suffered from CAUTI, which not only delayed his discharge but also gave him extra pain and distress. These cases not only lower the patient’s satisfaction but also bring long-term repercussions for community trust in the health care system. The problem prevention of CAUTI will be one of the focuses towards improving not only patient safety but also community confidence in our care services.
Desired State for Intervention
Slide 9: The ideal state for an intervention aimed at reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections in a healthcare setting is by developing and implementing evidence-based protocols that would minimize the use of catheters, bring about the removal as soon as possible, and ensure adherence to strict sterile techniques during insertion. Establishing these best practices as regular practices would reduce the occurrence of CAUTIs (Moi et al., 2023). Patient outcomes would be improved, while the financial burden due to an increased length of hospital stay and subsequent interventions would be decreased. A multidisciplinary team comprising nurses, physicians, and infection control specialists should be the center for maintaining vigilance over the use of catheters and ensuring adherence to preventive practices. Such an intervention would lead to the reduction of cases of CAUTI, good patient satisfaction, and therefore a safer environment in general.
The effectiveness of a quality improvement project to lower the rate of CAUTI is highly proven in the literature. According to a study that appeared in BMJ Quality & Safety, it was found out that comprehensive programs aimed at preventing CAUTI decreased the level of infection by 56% in the hospital setting (Park et al., 2024). This would benefit the patient and save the hospital money. They can improve the quality of care and achieve broader patient safety goals, which enhance the ability of the providers to offer effective and safe health care. Implementing these interventions will prevent infections, reducing the use of antibiotics and other treatments and thereby giving an opportunity for the development of antibiotic resistance, the last but important benefit of such interventions.
NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 1 Conclusion
Slide 10: CAUTIs are among those issues for which quality improvement initiatives need to be targeted on patient safety and enhancement of care outcomes in health settings (Alex et al., 2022). The evidence-based protocols on the appropriate use of catheters and infection control practices shall help reduce the rate of CAUTIs in health care institutions. Such interventions benefit the patients in minimizing risks for complications and enhancing their experiences during hospital stay but also align with organizational needs to decrease healthcare costs and achieve safety standards compliance. Continued commitment by healthcare providers to evidence-based practices fosters a safer environment for patients leading to improved public trust and confidence in the healthcare system.
NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 1 References
Abubakar, S., Boehnke, J. R., Burnett, E., & Smith, K. (2020). Examining instruments used to measure knowledge of catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention in health care workers: A systematic review. American Journal of Infection Control, 49(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.07.025
Alex, J., Maneze, D., Ramjan, L. M., Ferguson, C., Montayre, J., & Salamonson, Y. (2022). Effectiveness of nurse-targeted education interventions on clinical outcomes for patients with indwelling urinary catheters: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 112, 105319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105319
Coles, E., Anderson, J., Maxwell, M., Harris, F. M., Gray, N. M., Milner, G., & MacGillivray, S. (2020). The influence of contextual factors on healthcare quality improvement initiatives: a realist review. Systematic Reviews, 9(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01344-3
Hammoud, S., Amer, F., Lohner, S., & Kocsis, B. (2020). Patient education on infection control: A systematic review. American Journal of Infection Control, 48(12), 1506–1515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.05.039
McFee, Dr. R. B. (2020).Testing – laboratory testing – CDC guidelines. Disease-a-Month, 101067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2020.101067
Moi, L. L., Ching, P., A Apisarnthanarak, Jaggi, N., Harrington, G., & Fong, S. M. (2023). APSIC guide for prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). APSIC Guide for Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs), 12(1), 52–52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-023-01254-8
Park, J. H., Lee, N.-J., Lee, H., & Park, G. (2024). Determinants of clinical nurses’ patient safety competence: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open, 14(8), e080038–e080038. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080038
Van, T. (2022). Urinary tract infection among women in nursing homes: Prevention and nursing interventions: a systematic review. Www.theseus.fi. https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/785877
