PICOT QUESTION PAPER
NAME
COURSE
INSTITUTION
Introduction
Hospital-acquired infections have been on the rise over the past few years, raising concerns in healthcare. one of the significant infections is urinary tract infections, also known as Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), caused by the use of an indwelling catheter. Whenever the patients acquire CAUTI, they are subjected to longer stays in the health centers to undergo treatment at an extra cost. Additionally, a patient’s health status can quickly deteriorate if they cannot afford the treatment, leading to an increased mortality rate (Parker et al., 2017). This leads to dissatisfaction among patients because if strategic and evidence-based measures are effectively used, infection rates can decrease.
Purpose of Change proposal
The change proposal will raise awareness among patients and healthcare providers, which is a key step in minimizing infection rate. By sharing the appropriate information, the patients and the nurses will take preventive measures and safeguard themselves from the infection. For instance, CAUTI infections are often caused by extended use of catheters. When an indwelling catheter stays longer than the expected duration, the patient risks acquiring CAUTI. Additionally, when the catheter is not rightfully placed or the healthcare providers are not hygiene conscious, the possibility of getting the infection is also higher (Meddings et al., 2019). Therefore the change proposal is aimed at reducing infection rates and enhancing patient satisfaction.
Population
The patients in question for this paper are veterans. Therefore the study will focus on a veteran health administration. However, the veteran health association has specific measures used to curb the infection, but there are still multiple cases of CAUTI that need to be addressed to ensure that patient satisfaction is achieved and quality care is offered. This would help understand whether the healthcare providers effectively comply with the measures and whether they cooperate in achieving the goal together.
Intervention
The nursing care bundle is effective in managing CAUTI among veterans. One of the nursing bundles may entail the patients having the catheters removed faster and well maintained to reduce infection. Additionally, hand hygiene, inserting the catheter when required, using the sterile technique when inserting the catheter, perineal care daily, and after bowel movements—also advocating for maintaining a closed system, keeping the bag off the floor, properly securing the catheter without coils, and removing the catheter after the appropriate time (HanCHett & Rn, 2012). With this, the nursing bundle is hygiene conscious, which a significant factor in maintaining quality service and good health.
Comparison
Without the nursing care bundle, the rate of infection can significantly increase. When the nurses fail to observe hygiene measures when inserting and removing the catheters, the infection rate will significantly increase, resulting in an increased mortality rate.
Outcome
With the nursing care bundle, the rate of infection will decrease. Provision of patient care may also involve awareness, keeping the patient alert, and adhering to any preventive measures. A decrease in infection cultivates a decreased mortality rate and increased patient satisfaction.
Time
This entails the duration of stay the patient will spend in the hospital until recovery and discharge from the hospital. Additionally, the patient should be educated on hygienic measures he might need to apply even at home to ensure that no infections are acquired.
References
HanCHett, M., & Rn, M. (2012). Preventing CAUTI: A patient-centered approach. Prevention, 43, 42-50.
Meddings, J., Manojlovich, M., Fowler, K. E., Ameling, J. M., Greene, L., Collier, S., … & Saint, S. (2019). A tiered approach for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Annals of Internal Medicine, 171(7_Supplement), S30-S37.
Parker, V., Giles, M., Graham, L., Suthers, B., Watts, W., O’Brien, T., & Searles, A. (2017). Avoiding inappropriate urinary catheter use and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI): a pre-post control intervention study. BMC health services research, 17(1), 314.