Our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring optimal patient safety. To further our efforts in this area, we are seeking to collaborate with Year 4 HBSN students on a research-based quality improvement project focused on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at RVH.

The purpose of this project is to conduct a comprehensive data analysis of our current CLABSI rates within the ICU. This project will evaluate our ICU's performance against evidence-based standards and leading practices from comparable institutions, while simultaneously identifying opportunities to refine our existing procedures based on current research. This project will allow students to develop evidence-based recommendations for implementing or modifying protocols and procedures to reduce CLABSI rates in our ICU.

This project is expected to have a significant positive impact on our organization by:

• Improving Patient Safety: By reducing CLABSI rates, we can directly improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of complications.

• Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice: The project will provide valuable insights into our current practices and facilitate the adoption of evidence-based interventions.

• Facilitating Quality Improvement: The data analysis and benchmarking will enable us to identify areas for improvement and implement targeted quality improvement initiatives.

• Strengthening Nursing Practice: The project will provide our nursing staff with valuable data and recommendations to inform their practice and promote a culture of continuous improvement. The evidence found would be shared with the nurses in our ICU.

For RVH, a comprehensive report detailing the current CLABSI rates within the ICU, including trends and potential contributing factors will inform our future practice. This would include benchmarking data comparing our ICU's performance against national/regional standards and comparable facilities. A goal of this project would be to provide a detailed, evidence-based plan outlining specific recommendations for incorporating practical strategies into daily nursing practice and modifying protocols/procedures to help reduce CLABSI rates. Students can create a presentation to ICU staff, and leadership, explaining these findings, and the proposed changes.

For the students, this project would provide practical experience in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting healthcare data. It will also provide them with the opportunity to develop skills in applying evidence-based practice to real-world clinical scenarios. Students will have expose to the principles and methods of quality improvement in a clinical setting with the importance of understanding benchmarking and evidence-based practice in improving patient outcomes. Most importantly, students will gain valuable experience contributing to a project that has the potential to improve patient safety and outcomes.

Student Involvement:

Students participating in this project will utilize a hybrid model with onsite and remote work. They will be an integral role in the data analysis, research, and development of evidence-based recommendations for CLABSI reduction within our ICU. Students will work with designated ICU staff or Clinical Nurse Educators to collect relevant data from medical records, infection control databases, and other sources. They will utilize software (as appropriate) to analyze data, identify trends, and calculate infection rates. Students will ensure strict

adherence to patient privacy regulations and data confidentiality throughout the data collection and analysis process.

Students will conduct a thorough literature review to identify current evidence-based guidelines, best practices, and research findings related to CLABSI prevention. They will synthesize the research findings and apply them to the specific context of our ICU.

Resources Required (if any):

Students will require access to our electronic health care record system and the health library resources at RVH. Access to current hospital policies and procedures related to central line insertion and infection control will also be provided.

Support Offered to Students (i.e. weekly meetings, mentorship, etc.):

RVH is committed to providing comprehensive support to the ensure the students’ success in this project. We will offer dedicated mentorship from the Clinical Nurse Educator of the ICU, who will help to provide guidance on data collection, clinical context, interpretation of findings, and project development. Weekly or bi-weekly meetings will be scheduled between the student teams and their mentors to review progress, address challenges, and provide feedback.