CAPSTONE PROJECT 1 Quality and Safety Initiatives

CAPSTONE PROJECT 2 Healthcare-Associated Infections A healthcare-associated infection, also known as an HAI, is defined as a preventable infection that patients contract while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions (HealthyP, 2014). These infections can be associated with common procedures comparable to surgery and devices such as catheters and ventilators. Healthcare associated infections can occur in all types of care settings, which include acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgical enters, dialysis facilities, outpatient care, and long-term facilities (HealthyP, 2014). The frequency of healthcare-associated infections can be reduced through thorough staff education and appropriate interventions. Lewin’s theory of change will be explored and utilized throughout this research. Evidence Based Research on Healthcare-Associated Infections Healthcare-associated infections not only inflict pain and suffering on the patient, but these infections prolong their hospital stay and burden the facility with excess costs (Su, 2016). In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data that indicated that about one in twenty-five hospital patients had at least one healthcare-associated infection (Schroeder, 2014). Consequently, there were approximately 75,000 national patient deaths in 2011 as a result of acquiring an HAI. SRIs, or standardized infection ratios, track the progress of improvement regarding healthcare-associated infections (Schroeder, 2014). Common hospital acquired infections include ventilator-associated pneumonia, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and catheter associated urinary tract infections (Boev & Xia, 2015). There are many interventions that can be implemented in the workplace in order to prevent healthcare-associated infections, which can lead to serious complications. The best CAPSTONE PROJECT 3 interventions for preventing HAIs include hand hygiene, infection prevention protocols, and antimicrobial stewardship programs (Schroeder, 2014). Preceptor Credentials Jessica has experience in cardiac telemetry, medical surgical floors, step down units, hospice, and even charge nurse experience. Jessica Flores is an excellent mentor for my course project because of her bountiful knowledge in the nursing profession. She currently possesses a baccalaureate degree, which she has earned at Rasmussen College. She has experience in dealing with my designated topic, which I believe will be helpful. Healthcare Setting Healthcare associated infections can occur in all types of care settings, including acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgical enters, dialysis facilities, outpatient care, and long-term facilities (HealthyP, 2014). This investigation will occur in an inpatient hospital setting; more specifically, an acute care telemetry unit. The unit is composed of 47 beds, and over ten to eleven nurses working daily, along with four to five clinical technicians. Preceptor Role and Communication Strategies Jessica and I will plan and design this project through thorough investigation of evidence based research and practice. We will talk about everything we are knowledgeable about regarding this topic and investigate it further. The setting that this project will be integrated in is the hospital setting. I prefer this setting because I believe that a lot of health care associated infections arise in the hospital. Jessica will help me plan and design this project throughout our CAPSTONE PROJECT 4 means of communication. We have agreed to meet outside of work, make phone calls to each other, text message, and communicate through e-mail Capstone Project Outline 1. Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Overview a. What is a healthcare associated infection? b. Examples of healthcare associated infections c. How are healthcare associated infections acquired? 2. Research Regarding Healthcare Associated Infections a. How common is a healthcare associated infection? b. Who usually acquires these infections? c. What helps prevent these infections? 3. Change Theories a. Prevention of healthcare associated infections b. How are these infections prevented? c. How are they treated? d. What can be done to permanently reduce healthcare associated infections? 4. Evaluation a. How successful are interventions in prevention of HAIs? b. Did the change theory work? Capstone Project Timeline Project Objectives Objectives for this research will include the following: CAPSTONE PROJECT 5 ● Objective 1: Strengthen the knowledge base of nursing staff regarding prevention of healthcare associated infections through meetings, educational models, and assessments. ● Objective 2: Decrease the incidence of healthcare associated infections by at least 50% through appropriate intervention and successful education in the course of six months. ● Objective 3: Improve the success rating of preventable infections caused by devices such as central lines, Foley catheters, and ventilators throughout the facility by 99% in the course of a year. ● Objective 4: Enhance preparedness in nursing leaders to assume leadership roles in prevention of healthcare associated infections. Enhancement will be measured through multiple assessments that require a score of 100%. Annotated Bibliography Baylina, P., & Moreira, P. (2012). Healthcare-associated infections - on developing effective control systems under a renewed healthcare management debate. International Journal Of Healthcare Management, 5(2), 74-84. doi:10.1179/2Z.18 This article implies that health care associated infections have become a negative impact factor on the performance and outcome of health care organizations. This article also identifies barriers in care that hinder successful development of control systems. I found this article to be useful because of the importance in decreasing the incidence of health care associated infections. Listing barriers and reasons why there is unsuccessful intervention can help create appropriate interventions. Boev, C. & Xia, Y. (2015). Nurse-physician collaboration and hospital-acquired infections in critical care. Critical Care Nurse, 35(2). 66-72. doi:10.4037/ccn CAPSTONE PROJECT