Campus Location
Dallas Campus (Online)
Date of Award
6-2025
Document Type
DNP Project
Department
Nursing
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
Cheryl McGinnis
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
Tricia Bernecker
Abstract
Central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, in medical–surgical inpatients increase mortality, length of stay, and readmissions. In this project, the investigator sought to decrease CLABSIs and MRSA infections through quality improvement by implementing a standard chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing process. An urban hospital in the Midwestern United States experienced more CLABSIs and MRSA infections than expected in 2024. This unit had a standardized infection ratio of 1.4, with three CLABSIs rather than the 2.1 predicted. Also, they had 10 hospital-acquired MRSA isolates, which was higher than the 3.3 average of the other medical–surgical units. The project’s purpose was to decrease CLABSIs and MRSA infections by implementing a standard CHG bath process. This project utilized the quantitative method, Nightingale’s environmental theory, and Kotter’s 8-step change model as foundations. The infection rates were examined before and after the CHG bathing intervention. Data were collected through chart reviews, infection control reports, and analytics reports, examining data 4 weeks before standardized CHG bathing implementation and 4 weeks after. The nurses and technicians received training regarding a standard bathing process, including the rationale for bathing and the proper administration of the bath. The results demonstrated an increase in CHG bathing. CLABSI and MRSA rates could not be measured due to no infections occurring during the project period. This project demonstrated that clinical protocols drive adherence to standard evidence-based care for patients and that nurse engagement and implementation are critical to improved patient outcomes.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Phillips, Lindsy, "A Standardized Bathing Protocol to Prevent Central Line–Associated Bloodstream and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections" (2025). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 911.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/911