Eliminating Hospital Acquired Conditions

Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI’s) are the only device related infections which have increased in the last five years. Elimination of symptomatic urinary catheter associated infections seems like an unobtainable goal. We need to change that statistic. National quality and safety initiatives as well as reimbursement strategies are targeted to focus on reducing CAUTIs. Nursing must lead the change and successfully work with unit teams to adopt the latest evidence. We will go beyond the guidelines to explore new practices and technology that when integrated into current practice has shown to reduce or eliminate CAUTI’s. Care practices alone are not enough to sustain change. Being part of a safety culture is critical for success. Be the driver of change and bring the latest evidence to the bedside to ensure positive patient outcomes.

Do you feel like you have implemented all the evidence and still not getting the expected results? You are not alone. CLABSI’s remain a significant contribution to patient harm and financial losses. The problem may call for a different approach. Quality implementation science tells us that significant practice and process variation can lead to lower quality and higher cost. It makes sustainability almost impossible. The first step in this journey is dissection of both physician and nursing practices and processes then application of laser target strategies. This session focuses on key practice areas where significant variation has been identified through a national frontline consultation experience. Innovative assessment techniques and evidence based strategies are outlined to address both insertion and maintenance related central lines catheters. The challenge to incorporating new evidence into practice lies in altering routinized behavior and current culture in order to support new care practices. Leave with a plan for your organizations breakthrough to achieve zero in CLABSI’s.

Is the spread of Clostridium difficile (C-diff) a major problem in your critical care environments? Consider designing a plan of attach using the latest evidence and implementation strategies to win the war. C-Diff contributes to serious infections and higher mortality in critically ill patients. Antibiotic stewardship along the continuum of care is an essential prevention strategy. This session explores modes of transmission in order to outline a strategy for source control. Hand hygiene practices, the culture of culturing and environmental factors are examine closely as factors that impact the diagnosis and spread of C-diff. A focus on development of evidence-based care practices/protocols and the examination of resources and systems that support source control and reduce transmission are discussed. Let’s minimize the spread and successfully impact patient outcomes.

Is the spread of multidrug resistant (MDRO) organisms a major problem in your patient care environment? Are you tired of caring for your patient in isolation all the time? Then consider using your voice and strong knowledge base to design a plan of attack using the latest evidence and implementation strategies to win the war against invading microorganisms. MDRO’s contribute to serious infections and higher mortality in patients and as nurses we are the frontline warriors to stop microorganism invasion. This session explores modes of transmission to outline a strategy for source control. Evidence based fundamental nursing care including hand hygiene, bathing, oral care and line management are examine as potential sources and fundamental care prevention practices are outlined. Case examples are used to outline strategies for reducing the infection rates within your own units. Let’s stop the invasion of microorganisms and work to create safer environments for our patients.

Safety for our patients is a high priority in every unit, and this demand for patient care excellence increases every day, week and year. In our complex systems we need to understand the inherent fallibility in humans as well as the risk of system failure associated with equipment and devices used in tightly inter-woven work processes. The importance of preventing hospital acquired skin injury and achieving early mobilization while protecting the caregiver from injury is part of a strong safety culture. This course will provide you the most current clinical data and comprehensive solutions to impact modifiable risk factors for skin breakdown in patients while facilitating early patient mobility and assuring safety of the caregiver.

The skin is the first line of defense against invading organisms and the organ we often overlook when caring for our critically ill patients in a high-tech environment. The incidence of pressure ulcers in the inpatient arena ranges from 3 to 40%. In today’s cost conscious environment, this type of preventable injury can no longer be place in a low care priority position. How well do we succeed at offloading pressure with enough frequency to prevent injury, reducing shear/friction or eliminating the impact of moisture in acute & critically ill patients? We will seek to identify the challenges currently facing the front line practitioner in achieving the standard of turning every two hours, reducing shear & friction and protecting the skin while wicking away moisture.

By understanding current practice, a review of evidence based strategies and care resources will be outlined to address the current barriers to achieving practice standards around mobility and moisture. An evidence based protocol to help drive implementation of practice with creative methods for identifying patients at risk will be discussed. As nurses we know what needs to be done but often are unable to achieve the care because of competing priorities. Let’s step out from behind the curtain in the room and take ownership for making the right care happen at the right time for the right patient. Let’s own the mobility and moisture issue for our own safety and that of our patients.

Our clinical goal is to protect the skin from injury. Incontinence-associated dermatitis is a clinical symptom of moisture-associated skin damage and is common in patients with fecal and/or urinary incontinence. Prevention includes following a structured skin care regimen that includes gentle cleansing, moisturization, and application of a skin protectant or moisture barrier. This webinar will outline the problem, review the evidence based literature on prevention strategies and outline the protocol and care practices for prevention of IAD.

Caring for the skin may not be the most exciting of all critical nursing practices, but it is one of the most powerful. The skin is the first line of defense against invading organisms and the organ we often overlook when caring for our critically ill patients. The 2019 International Guidelines state the incidence rate for pressure ulcers in the ICU ranges from 3.3-53%. In today’s cost conscious environment, this type of preventable injury can no longer be place in a low care priority position. How well do we succeed at offloading pressure in the sacral and heel area with enough frequency to prevent injury, reducing shear/friction or eliminating the impact of moisture in acute & critically ill patients? By understanding current practice, a review of evidence based strategies and care resources will be outlined to address the current barriers to achieving practice standards around skin injury. An evidence based protocol to help drive implementation of practice with creative methods for identifying patients at risk will be discussed. As nurses we know what needs to be done but often are unable to achieve the care because of competing priorities. Let’s ignite the flame and take ownership for making the right care happen at the right time for the right patient. Let’s hardwire prevention practices for our own safety and that of our patients.

Safety for our patients is a high priority in every corner of the hospital or ambulatory setting, and this demand for patient care excellence increases every day, week and year. In our complex systems we need to understand the inherent fallibility in humans as well as the risk of system failure associated with equipment and devices used in tightly inter-woven work processes. Organization that strive to create high reliability around error reduction for both the patient and caregiver demonstrates four cultural characteristics; (1) preoccupation with failure, (2) reluctance to simplify interpretations, (3) sensitivity to operations/systems, and (4) commitment to resilience (working till it is fixed) with a willingness to take action using expertise.