Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Project – Full Written

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Committee Chair

Melissa McNeilly

Abstract

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a significant yet preventable source of increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in acute care settings. Despite established evidence-based prevention bundles, inconsistent nursing adherence remains a primary contributor to elevated CLABSI rates. A 241-bed acute care hospital reported CLABSI rates above the national benchmark. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project utilized Neuman’s Systems Model. The intervention consisted of a structured educational module on central line care and maintenance, including pre- and post- knowledge assessments. Additionally, standardized daily central line visual audits were reinforced by the Vascular Access Team. A total of 363 bedside nurses were assigned the intervention over a 4-week period, with audit data collected for 2 weeks pre- and post-implementation. Central line audit failure rates decreased from 6.25% pre-intervention to 5.68% post-intervention, reflecting a 9.5% reduction. Improvements were observed in infusion tubing labeling and maintenance of clean, dry, intact, and occlusive dressings. Persistent deficiencies were noted in the proper labeling of central line dressings with the date of change. The project demonstrated that targeted education and consistent auditing can positively influence nursing practice behaviors. Barriers such as limited staff participation and workflow challenges impacted overall effectiveness. This project highlights the critical role of nursing education and system-level support in improving patient safety outcomes.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

COinS