Date of Award

Fall 2015

Project Type

Thesis

College or School

CHHS

Program or Major

Nursing

Degree Name

Master of Science

Abstract

Background: Computerized infusion devices called smart infusion pumps or smart pumps are clinical tools capable of decreasing IV medication infusion calculation errors through the use of embedded drug libraries. These devices are now important tools contributing to a “culture of safety” defined by the Joint Commission. Reports from April 2015 indicated a 22% occurrence rate in which the devices were not correctly programmed before infusion.

AIM Statement: The global aim of this quality improvement project was to improve usage of the IV pump drug library by ensuring medication is correctly labeled before infusion. The specific aim was to increase the IV pump drug library usage from 78% to 90% by July 24, 2015.

Method: Kurt Lewin’s Change Theory was used as the theoretical framework to guide the project and usage of the IV pump drug library on a 30 bed surgical unit. A pre- intervention Likert style survey was conducted to identify barriers to library usage, determine level of confidence with the library, and understand nurses’ ability to find a medication in the library. Meetings with the Unit Practice Council (UPC) and educational huddles were conducted to discuss correct usage of the drug library. Based on pharmacy reports, the menu of drugs displayed in the pump was changed to reflect the top ten most frequently used medications. Post-intervention pharmacy reports were compared to baseline.

Results: Data from the pre-intervention survey and staff meetings indicated a knowledge deficit in correct usage of the IV pump drug library and perceptions of time constraints and inability to find medication as barriers to its usage. Data post “pump push” indicated the usage of the drug library was 84.2%.

Conclusions: Implementation of educational huddles and a “pump push” was anticipated to increase the percentage of IV pump drug library usage. Implications for the role of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) are explored and discussed.

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Nursing Commons

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