Date of Graduation

Summer 8-11-2023

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Program

MSN project

First Advisor

Kelly Ingram

Abstract

Abstract Problem: Bed baths are routine bedside procedures offered in hospitals to support patients'

cleanliness and promote comfort and overall well-being. This bedside procedure represents fundamental care provided by healthcare professionals. Ensuring proper bed bathing compliance in the healthcare setting of a medical-surgical observation and telemetry unit has been significantly challenging. After thorough monitoring of the unit, key factors contributing to low bed bath compliance include time constraints, staffing shortage, and barriers specific to patients and staff. The evidence-based interventions to improve bed bath compliance include a bed bath bundle emphasizing teamwork and effective communication, as identified through an extensive literature review. Context: This quality improvement project took place in a local hospital's medical-surgical observation and telemetry unit, aiming to enhance bed bath compliance for improved workflow and patient care. Interventions: The project involved rigorous monitoring of the unit and the implementation of a comprehensive bed bath bundle. This bundle included visual signs to indicate bed bath preferences and completion, a well-equipped bath cart, and the utilization of Vocera communication devices by unit leaders for reminders. Measures: The bed bath bundle's effectiveness will be evaluated through audits of team members' charting in the Electronic Health Record (EHR). The assessment encompassed visual reminders, bath supply distribution, and audio reminders from unit leaders. Additional process measures involved charge nurse rounding to ensure visible signs are posted on patient room door frames and unit clerk distribution of bath supplies to rooms with signs. To measure the efficacy of the bath bundle project among staff, a bath auditing tool will be utilized and post-intervention

surveys will assess the nurse’s perceptions of the effectiveness of the bath bundle in aiding with the completion of bed baths. Results: Auditing of bed bath compliance in the medical-surgical observation and telemetry unit revealed an average daily bed bath rate of approximately 12% for the patient population from October 2021 to September 2022. Staff surveys and analyses identified staff resistance and poor charting compliance as common challenges. In response, a bed bath bundle was implemented, incorporating visual coding, improved interdisciplinary communication, and Vocera reminders to enhance charting compliance. Preliminary findings indicate a significant difference in compliance rates among healthcare members. These results suggest the bundle's potential effectiveness in improving bed bath adherence and patient care, with an expected minimum of an 11% increase in charted baths.

Conclusion: By addressing noncompliance root causes and implementing evidence-based interventions such as bed bath bundles, healthcare institutions can foster a culture of compliance, elevating patient care quality and resulting in improved outcomes and higher overall satisfaction during hospital stays.

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