Assignment: Application: Planned Change Health Medicine Research Paper

Planned Change to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit
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Planned Change to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is a severe infection. The prevention of this hospital-acquired infection is increasingly becoming a significant patient safety issue (Lambert et al., 2013). This paper describes the issue of VAP within a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A change to address this specific issue is also described in addition to an appropriate change model and the necessary steps to facilitate the change. Lastly, the paper describes the individual responsible for initiating and managing the planned change.
Issue: VAP in the ICU
VAP is a significant nosocomial infection that occurs in ten to twenty percent of ICU patients who have been mechanically ventilated. For ICU patients, the prevalence rates of VAP are an important indicator of the quality of care and safety (Hellyer, 2016). According to Lambert et al. (2013), VAP has major consequences with an increase in healthcare costs, prolongation of hospital stay, prolongation of ICU stay, and even increased patient mortality.
Change to address the Issue: Implement VAP Prevention Care Bundle
To address the issue of VAP in the hospital’s ICU, a bundle of interventions will be implemented to prevent VAP. The care bundle will replace the toothbrushing for the prevention of VAP. Tooth brushing in the critical care unit cannot substantially decrease the rates of VAP (Labeau & Blot, 2013). Therefore, there is a need for change. The interventions are aimed at preventing contamination of respiratory/ventilator equipment, and preventing repeated micro-aspiration, colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and the upper airway (Hellyer et al., 2016). Bundles of care refer to evidence-based practices (EBPs) which are grouped to encourage health professionals to deliver them consistently. They include the following: elevating the head of the bed to between thirty and forty-five degrees; every day sedation interruption and assessing the readiness to extubate to ensure patient safety and reduce the patient’s risk of developing VAP; and utilizing subglottic secretion drainage. Furthermore, scheduled ventilator circuit changes have to be avoided (Hellyer et al., 2016). If this care bundle of interventions is implemented by the ICU nurses consistently, it will greatly help decrease the rates of VAP.
The change aligns with the Values, Mission, and Vision of the Organization
The change seeks to reduce patient morbidity and mortality. It also seeks to improve safety and quality of patient care. This aligns with the healthcare organization’s values, mission, and vision. The organization’s mission is to save lives through quality care and patient safety. Its mission is to improve patient experience and patient outcomes continuously and to end preventable harm. Its values include integrity and leadership, collegiality and respect, excellence and discovery, as well as patient-centered and family-centered care.
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