Implementing a prevention plan for ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care

¶ … Ventilator Associated Pneumonia reflects the most common healthcare related infection in the process of providing intensive care within the context of the hospital. The condition enhances the morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and costs increments. Ventilator Associated Pneumonia possesses significant threat to the development of human beings because of the costs and complexion of the condition. The condition occurs under the watch of the nurses who have the responsibility of providing extensive care to patients. Since the condition is complex, it is essential to focus on its prevention rather than treatment thus reduction in the total costs and adverse effects in association with Ventilator Associate Pneumonia (Zilberberg et al., 2011). This calls for the development of the implementation plan (K-1) to enable the prevention and reduction of the Ventilator Associated Pneumonia.

The population in which the solution is intended, the staff that will participate, and the key contributors that must provide approval and/or support for your project to be implemented

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia affects the majority of the world's population hence one of the common conditions contracted from the hospitals in the provision of the intensive care. Nurses have the obligation to provide intensive care to patients suffering from different conditions within the health context. This makes nurses indispensable agents in the prevention of the Ventilator Associated Pneumonia. In the implementation of the K-1 prevention plan, a group of nurses from sections of the hospital or health center would participate. The number of participants in this implementation would be approximately 65 nurses. This number would be sufficient for the education of the public and other nurses who offer intensive care services on the need and importance of prevention or K-1 plan. The key contributors that must provide approval or support for the K-1 prevention plan are members of the Clinical Practices Committee. This would provide the crucial authority for the implementation of the plan in order to provide the vital change for the reduction or prevention of the Ventilator Associated Pneumonia.

Method of obtaining necessary approval(s) and securing support from your organization's leadership and fellow staff

In order to secure the necessary approval and support of the formal leadership of the health organization, the implementation team would organize a meeting. The meeting would be between the 35 nurses and the members of the formal leadership with the aim of convincing the group to realize the importance of implementing K-1 prevention plan. Presentations would characterize the meeting with the formal leadership. In the process of obtaining the support, the implementation team would highlight the cost effect of the plan, the key information about Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, the need to prevent the condition, and the ideal framework for implementation of the program. The implementation team would also highlight on the steps and stages that are crucial to the fight against the condition hence the need for its adoption. Formal leadership members would obtain copies of the implementation plan in order to digest its logistics and objectives thus development of authority in relation to its adoption. Formal leadership would play a critical role in submitting the copy of the proposal or implantation plan to the Clinical Practices Committee to ensure that it is within the standards of health issues. This approach would enhance the authority and support for the plan aiming to reduce the overwhelming threat to human beings concerning their well-being. The plan's main objective is to cater for patients who cannot afford the hospital treatment for the condition.

Description of current problem, issue, or deficit requiring a change

Current Problem

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) contributes about 15% of the hospital acquired nosocomial infections (Zilberberg et al., 2011). The condition proves to be a threat to human beings on the fact that it is only second to urinary infection in the list of infections that occur in the intensive care units. The condition is fatal to the patients showing symptoms or signs in that almost 30% of the population suffers from the condition. The contemporary world experiences increase in the cases of VAP thus the need for its reduction or prevention. VAP is no longer an unfortunate occurrence within the context of the hospital but a medical error. There is a strong need for adoption of preventive and reduction measures in relation to the condition affecting the majority of the population.

Current Procedure

Most hospitals and health centers adopt the use of 30 degrees temperature rates to the head of the beds as a preventive measure or strategy to the condition thus lowering the chances for aspiration. The temperatures of the head of elevation are usually below 30 degrees. There is also the implantation of the ET tubes to curb the conditions (Keum, 2011). This occurs under the influence of managing directors or formal leadership thus proves to be ineffective approach against reducing VAP. There is also the process of removing subglottic secretions with the aim of reducing the risks of aspiration. This approach proves to be the most cost effective application of the efforts against the VAP condition. Nurses also have significant intervention programs such as mouth care at crucial durations. There is also the application of DVT prophylaxis and peptic ulcer prevention activities. These current procedures are expensive and prove to evade the low-income earners who cannot afford to pay for the hospital services in curbing VAP. This calls for the adoption of cost effective approach (K-1) to help reduce the extent of the condition in relation to the development of human beings. The cost of treatment represents the deficit of the current procedure that requires extensive change (Uneja et al., 2011).

Rationale for selecting proposed solution

The adoption of K-1 plan is in relation to the extent of population of the planet or the human race suffering from the influence of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia. The condition proves to account for 15% infection cases within the context of the hospital. VAP affects morbidity and mortality rates thus proving to be a disaster to the development of the human race. The other rationale for selecting the K-1 plan is its cost effective nature. The causes of the VAP conditions can undergo preventive measures. This makes it possible to apply the K-1 plan thus meeting the needs of the less fortunate society members who cannot afford the cost of healthcare services.

Evidence from Literature Review to support proposed solution and reason for change

Kimberly Clark (2004) illustrates on how the basic preventive methods or measures could be effective in the elimination or reduction of the VAP conditions. Emphasis of the implementation plan is on the nurses who play a vital role within the intensive care units. The nurses need to apply extensive precautions or preventive measures to minimize the chances of infecting the patients. "In the ICU, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) represents the most prevalent and visible hospital-acquired infection (HAI). Although some evidence-based strategies reduce the incidence of VAP, despite a recent policy drive toward zero VAP rates, no evidence supports feasibility of VAP eradication. Furthermore, in the era of resource constraints, cost-effectiveness of various strategies is critical to consider" (Zilberberg et al., 2011). This illustration by Zilberberg indicates the need or reason for change in order to adopt an effective and efficient cost-effective preventive measure against VAP. Other researchers note that VAP affects the morbidity and mortality rates thus reducing the development of the human race in relation to health issues. This also makes it necessary to design appropriate way of reducing the problem.

Description of Implementation Logistics

The implementation of the plan would take eight extensive months. The first month would involve accumulation of effective resources for the implementation of the K-1 plan. The second month would focus on development of educational tool that will focus on training the nurses on the essential, basic approaches that reduce the VAP condition. Education to the nurses is the crucial aspect of the implementation plan hence would take the last two months of the first phase. The educational team will adopt the use of seminars, workshops, and sessions to enhance the knowledge of nurses who play a critical role in providing healthcare to the patients. Nurses will learn the reasons behind implementation of the K-1 plan such as the need to prevent VAP and appropriate but basic efforts to execute the objectives. This would enhance their efforts while dealing with patients in the mechanical ventilation. The second phase will focus on implementation of information from educational test or sessions to normal activities or dealing with patients. There will be critical evaluation on the plan to examine its performance in preventing or reducing the VAP conditions. The evaluation team will then table the findings in relation to the effectiveness of the plan in meeting the targets or objectives.

Resources Required for Implementation of the Plan

Item No.

Description

Estimated Cost

01

Staff: this represents the human capital. The hospital has sufficient staff members thus no need for further recruitment

$0

02

Education Materials: power point presentations, pamphlets, and posters

$2,000

03

Assessment Tools: questionnaires, surveys, pre- and posttests to assess knowledge of participants at baseline and after intervention

$500

04

Technology: technology or software needs

$0

05

Funds: cost of educating staff, printing or producing educational materials, gathering and analyzing data (before, during, and following implementation).

$1,000