Assignment: Evidence-Based Project, Part 5: Recommending an Evidence-Based Practice Change

Evidence-Based Decision Making-Handwashing To Reduce HAIs

Name

Institution

Course Name

Date

Description Of Healthcare Organization

A regional-based hospital of a 400 bed capacity

The hospital serves an estimated population of 200,000 people

The healthcare workforce majorly comprises of nurses

Healthcare staffs are dedicated and passionate

The organization has embraced a culture of multidisciplinary collaboration

For the purpose of this EBP project, the healthcare organization of choice is regional-based hospital of a 400 bed capacity which serves an estimated population of 200,000 people (children, elderly and adults). The hospital’s healthcare workforce primarily comprises of nurses although there are other healthcare providers such as physicians, dieticians, cardiologists, nurse practitioners and specialists. The nurses are passionate and dedicated and guided by professional values and ethics which increase their likelihood to be engaged in EBP research. The hospital has a library with a wide-range of resources to research from.

 

Problem Description

üHAIs comprise 30% of the hospitals diagnoses among hospitalized patients

üHigh incidences of HAIs are as a result of poor hand hygiene practices

üPatients experience prolonged admissions and poor health outcomes

üHigh incidences of HAIs  impact negatively on the hospitals financial performance NURS_6052_week_9 Assignment: EBP, Part 5: Recommending an EBP Change

üIt also has a negative impact on rates of patient satisfaction, staff satisfaction and patient health outcomes

Hospital Acquired Infections were noted to contribute to 30% of diagnoses among patients who were hospitalized. The high incidences were attributed to poor hand hygiene practices and lack of hygiene protocols. As a result, most patients faced prolonged admissions with additional medical costs and poor health outcomes. These effects proved to impact negatively on the hospital’s financial performance and reputation. It also lowered the staff and patient satisfaction rates.

 

Proposed Evidence-based Idea

üThe hospital has selected handwashing with soap and water to reduce HAIs

üA proposed alternative is the use of alcohol-based handrubs

üHandwashing promotes hand hygiene

üIt also reduces  the acquisition rates of pathogens on the hands

üHandwashing will help  to prevent and reduce the incidences of HAIs

The organization has decided on handwashing using soap and water to reduce the rates and incidences of HAIs. An alternative that has also demonstrated efficacy is the use of alcohol-based handrubs. Handwashing has proven to promote hand hygiene by reducing the rates of acquiring pathogens on hands thus reducing and preventing the rates and incidences of HAIs in the organization. NURS_6052_week_9 Assignment: EBP, Part 5: Recommending an EBP Change

 

Plan For Knowledge Transfer

üStakeholders’ knowledge on hand hygiene using a survey will be assessed

üThe survey results will be reviewed to identify information gaps

üTraining plans will be planned based on the identified knowledge and information gaps

üTraining will be  modified to  address organizational and patient needs

üAn actual training  will be conducted and feedback obtained

üAn infection control committee will be implemented to oversee the implementation process

The first step when planning for knowledge transfer will be to assess for the needs in training by assessing stakeholders’ knowledge on hand hygiene and hand washing and how it prevents HAIs through a short survey. The findings will help to identify potential information and knowledge gaps and help to facilitate plans for training. The training will be modified to address patients and organizational needs to achieve specific goals. The implementation of the knowledge shared and adoption of a hygiene protocol will be overseen by an infection control committee that will thereafter be established. NURS_6052_week_9 Assignment: EBP, Part 5: Recommending an EBP Change

 

Measurable Outcomes

üIncident reports from the inpatient setting of patients diagnosed with HAIs

üPatient’s length of stay in hospital

üThe hospital’s financial performance

üMortality and morbidity rates

üPatient experience of care

After implementing the proposed intervention, expected outcomes should be able to be me