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MYFRIENDSSCHOLARYACTIVITY.docx

This document describes the scholarly activity elements that should be included in a five-paragraph summary. You may use this resource to help guide the preparation of the Scholarly Activities assignment, due in Topic 10.

Overview

I attended a Best Practice Class with the educational topic of discussion “Infection Prevention: Preventing infections on your Unit (Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)”. This program was organized by unit practice council members on central line infection prevention at Grady Health System to educate nurses on how to prevent infections in central lines and provide quality patient care. It was helpful to me as the class enhanced my ability to identify how infection can be transmitted and ways to prevent the spread and keep patients safe

Problem

· There is about 30,100 CLABSI in U.S. Acute care facilities per year. It is a problem for every patient that has a central line access.

· CLABSI result in serious infections with increased hospital stay, cost and risk of mortality. An estimated cost of CLABSI is between $3,700 to $45,814.

· This class is beneficial to nurses that participated as they now have a clear understanding of how CLABSI can be prevented through proper insertion technique, maintenance of aseptic technique and management of the central line.

Solution

The solution for CLABSI includes preventive measures and maintenance practices.

· The preventive measures include; hand hygiene, avoidance of unnecessary central lines, daily review for necessity with prompt removal as indicated, central line bundle check list for insertion, aseptic technique and change or remove emergent placed lines within 48 hours.

· Daily maintenance practices include; assess and document need for central line, hand hygiene, wear gloves when caring for central lines, curos caps applied to lumens not in use, ensure dressings are intact, flush every lumen every shift with 10ml preservative free normal saline (PFNS), remove unnecessary peripheral lines.

Opportunity

This scholarly activity created an opportunity for nurses to be educated on how to prevent CLABSI and identify the need for central lines. The objectives of the activity were:

· To provide nurses with information on the recommendations for preventing CLABSI

· To educate nurses on how infection can be transmitted

· To create in nurses a culture of daily central line maintenance practices

Attending this activity has helped me grow in the area of infection control and prevention.

Program Competencies Addressed

· Implement patient care decisions based on evidence-based practice.

· Professionally communicate and collaborate with the interdisciplinary health care teams to provide safe and effective care.

Demonstrate professional standards of practice