QI/ PI improvement project, anyone?

MaggieClatter · Mar 29, 2011

I didn't do this project, but a student before me did and it was really well recieved - called the "scrub the hub" campaign - posters to encourage staff to scrub lumens for 15 seconds with an alcohol swab to prevent central line infections

mpccrn, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2011

I'm currently doing a QI project involving interruptions while pouring medication. I am gathering data for a 2 month period, tracking medication errors and will implement a 'no interuption zone'. While nurses are pouring meds, they will not be interrupted for anything or by anyone (short of a life threatening emergency) and see if the errors decrease. It's part of the 'just culture' trend. Staff members are excited by it as they can be easily interrupted by phone calls, doc questions, chit-chat, family members, etc 20 times or more during one pour.

Another study we did recently was about OR patients being admitted post of to ICU with their name bands and T&C bands cut off them and taped to the chart. While we understand why it is important sometimes to remove the bands, it was unacceptable to not replace them.

Another study we did was a smoking cessation education study. Were smokers given material they could use to quit before discharge? Was it documented. Same thing with CHF teaching.

We did a study to reduce ER to ICU admit times. We documented the time we were called for the bed, the time the bed was given, who in ICU would be taking report, when they called for it, who they got report from, the time of report and finally the arrival time of the patient to ICU. It was amazing how the time was cut down once there were names of people who could be held responsible for unnecessary delays.

Missed meds from pharmacy....funny while they knew they were being looked at, there were less and less meds missed but now that the study is over, the missed meds are back.