Survey for nurses: student needs for a paper she is writing.

Hi,

I am writing a proposal for a class. My premise is that a hospital can dramatically reduce patient to patient transmission of MRSA by issuing each person their own disposable blood pressure cuff upon admission. (I would also go on to say that this should apply to anything that might be shared- pulse oximeter, etc) In nursing school, I was really bothered by going patient to patient using the same cuff and then finding out that a patient had MRSA. The precautions that would be put into place came to late because we had possibly spread these bacteria from patient to patient for half the shift These disposable cuffs cost about $30 depending upon the manufacturer. With Medicare not covering the cost of hospital acquired MRSA, it is important for facilities to look into ways of preventing patient to patient transmission. If you are an infection control nurse or nurse manager at your facility please answer these questions:

1. Do nurses clean blood pressure cuffs between each patient?

2. Do you feel that this is a possible means of MRSA transmission?

3. Do you feel that MRSA transmissions would be reduced by initiating such a policy?

4. Give me a ball park figure of what it costs the hospital to treat a person who contracts MRSA.

5. Do you believe that issuing a $30 blood pressure cuff to each patient would be cost effective, in light of what it costs to treat a patient who contracts MRSA?

Thank you for your help.:bowingpur

[1greatrn]

Alright. I don't care who answers this survey. Its for an English class and I need some input. Don't know how much the average infection costs. Take a guess. I will compare your answer to what I can find in my research. I just need responses.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

1greatrn- are you required to include a survey in this paper? I ask, because you should be able to find all the info you are seeking by doing a lit review. If you address these things: $, morbidity & mortality, and quality of life (patients and staff), you should be fine.

Check out some of the research done by Jack Needleman. He does a lot of nurse-sensitive quality indicator research. I'm sure I've read some stats on MRSA & cost in a couple of his articles. There are some evidence based practice articles out there that address what some facilities are doing to lower their MRSA transmission rates as well.

[1greatrn]

Yes,

I need to survey some nurses or interview an infection control person. It is in a proposal format. In my paper, I am proposing the use of disposable cuffs as a way my fictitious hospital can reduce MRSA infections.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Oh, OK. I will try to answer your questions, but I am not an IC nurse.

1. Do nurses clean blood pressure cuffs between each patient?

Yes

2. Do you feel that this is a possible means of MRSA transmission?

Yes- MRSA can be transmitted by skin-skin contact

3. Do you feel that MRSA transmissions would be reduced by initiating such a policy?

Yes- we saw a reduction by cleaning non-disposable cuffs (used with non-MRSA patients), and by using disposable cuffs with our MRSA patients, and those who had immunodeficiencies.

4. Give me a ball park figure of what it costs the hospital to treat a person who contracts MRSA.

I have heard that it can cost more than $20,000 to treat 1 person w/MRSA. Vancomycin is commonly used for treatment, and it is very expensive.

5. Do you believe that issuing a $30 blood pressure cuff to each patient would be cost effective, in light of what it costs to treat a patient who contracts MRSA?

Yes- I have seen this work.

Good luck with your paper!

[1greatrn]

Hi,

I am writing a proposal for a class. My premise is that a hospital can dramatically reduce patient to patient transmission of MRSA by issuing each person their own disposable blood pressure cuff upon admission. (I would also go on to say that this should apply to anything that might be shared- pulse oximeter, etc) In nursing school, I was really bothered by going patient to patient using the same cuff and then finding out that a patient had MRSA. The precautions that would be put into place came to late because we had possibly spread these bacteria from patient to patient for half the shift These disposable cuffs cost about $30 depending upon the manufacturer. With Medicare not covering the cost of hospital acquired MRSA, it is important for facilities to look into ways of preventing patient to patient transmission.

Do nurses clean blood pressure cuffs between patients?

Do you feel MRSA can be transmitted this way?

Would the use of disposable cuffs by all patients reduce this risk?

I would appreciate a response from as many of you as possible. You don't have to be an expert. Just tell what you have observed and think.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Thread moved to Nursing Student Assistance forum to encourage more responses.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Threads merged for continuity.