Implementation of a Nurse-Driven CAUTI Prevention Algorithm

Nurs Clin North Am. 2019 Mar;54(1):81-96. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2018.11.001. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Abstract

The cardiovascular thoracic step-down unit of an urban academic medical center had 4 catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in 2 months compared with 5 in the previous year. The nursing literature showed that the implementation of nurse-driven algorithms for early removal of indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs) decreased the catheter days and risk of CAUTIs. Using the Model for Improvement, the nurse leader performed daily IUC rounds to enforce the removal algorithm and visual management tools to identify IUC removal barriers. The quality improvement project resulted in fewer catheter days, the implementation of evidence-based practice, and no new CAUTIs.

Keywords: Algorithm; CAUTI; Evidence-based practice; Leader rounding; Model for Improvement; Nurse empowerment; Visual management.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers / statistics & numerical data
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Algorithms
  • Catheters, Indwelling / standards*
  • Evidence-Based Nursing / standards*
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Urban / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurse's Role*
  • Nursing Care / standards*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Quality Improvement / standards*
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • United States
  • Urinary Tract Infections / prevention & control*