Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Problem/Project Report

Degree Type

DNP

College

School of Nursing

Committee Chair

Marian Longstreth

Committee Member

Aaron Ostrowski

Committee Member

Alan Alimario

Committee Member

Jordyn Squires

Committee Member

Dale Childs

Abstract

Background: Central line infections in a 33-bed Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at a large academic medical center located in the northeastern United States were increasing for patients after cardiovascular surgery. These infections could, potentially, lead to longer hospital stays and lost revenues for the health system. A project explored the implementation of an evidence-based practice (EBP) sterile procedure standardized checklist during central line insertions

Purpose: A quality improvement (QI) initiative project sought to improve central line insertion compliance while monitoring the bedside implementation of an EBP checklist.

Intervention: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) EBP central line insertion checklist was implemented at the bedside. Nurse utilized the checklist during the providers’ central line insertion to monitor the standardized elements, hence enhancing compliance with the technique employed in the central line insertion procedure.

Methods: The project employed the Iowa Model for Implementation Sustainability Framework to evaluate the use of checklists during central line insertions in the CVICU.

Results: Post-intervention analysis revealed the checklist usage during central line insertions and demonstrated an overall decrease in central line infections in the CVICU. The sample size consisted of a lean portfolio of returned checklists, which included multiple QI initiatives performed during the implementation phase in the CVICU.

Conclusion: Significant improvements to the reduction of central line infections are a potential topic for further exploration; nevertheless, substantial outcomes of the project were limited by the number of participant responses. Overall, this quality improvement initiative demonstrates that sustained adherence to a standardized central line insertion checklist is a practice and effective approach to improving procedural compliance and advancing infections prevention efforts.

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