Date of Award
Summer 8-3-2025
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
First Advisor
Sheri Jacobson, PhD, RN
Second Advisor
Heather M. Tincher, DNP, FNP-BC
Abstract
Practice Problem: Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) burden patients and health care organizations by influencing extended hospital stays, increasing mortality risk, and increasing healthcare spending.
PICOT: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Project was guided by the PICOT question: In ICU nursing staff (P), how does the implementation of a standardized process with visual reminders and checklists (I) compared to no reminders or checklists (C) impact compliance with the decolonization protocol for HAI reduction (O) over four weeks?
Evidence: A review of evidence-based literature demonstrated efficacy in the reduction of HAIs through once daily bathing with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and the application of 2% mupirocin ointment intranasally for five days during an ICU admission.
Intervention: The organization’s ICU decolonization policy was posted at the nursing station and standardized checklists were placed in patient rooms to document daily CHG bathing and mupirocin application. Staff compliance was measured as fully completed, partially completed, or not completed and was evaluated weekly.
Outcome: A two-tailed one-sample t-test demonstrated statistically significant improvement in compliance with a p-value < 0.0001. Clinical significance was also demonstrated through improved visibility of the decolonization protocol within the ICU.
Conclusion: Ongoing engagement from stakeholders and improved integration of the decolonization protocol into the current workflow are essential components for the DNP scholarly project’s sustainability.
Recommended Citation
Moore, S. J. (2025). Improving ICU Decolonization Compliance Among Nursing Staff. [Doctoral project, University of St Augustine for Health Sciences]. SOAR @ USA: Student Scholarly Projects Collection. https://doi.org/10.46409/sr.HEBB9492
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Comments
Scholarly project submitted to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice.