Nurses' knowledge and skills assessment related to central line bloodstream infection prevention : a pilot study at SGHUMC

Abstract

The practicum was taking place at Saint Georges Hospital University Medical Center-Beirut. The quality department at the hospital is actively working on developing policies related to nursing and medical practice, as part of their efforts to obtain Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation. One of these policies focuses on the prevention of Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI), and they are seeking to develop a patient education tool specifically for this purpose. The practicum started on December 2022 and ended on March 2023. The aim of the practicum is to evaluate the knowledge and practices of nurses at St. Georges Hospital regarding the prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). This information will serve as a foundation for identifying areas of improvement and developing targeted interventions to enhance their knowledge and adherence to best practices for CLABSI prevention. The goal is to optimize patient safety and outcomes by ensuring that nurses possess the necessary knowledge and skills to prevent CLABSIs effectively. A descriptive study was used to assess the nurses’ knowledge and practice on central line bloodstream infection prevention by conducting a questionnaire; in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the nurses' current knowledge level and implementation of preventive measures related to CLABSI. Findings revealed that as registered nurses become more experienced their practice on central line manipulation increases. Results underscore the importance of addressing these gaps in CLABSI prevention, including the need for patient education, the establishment of dedicated prevention programs, and the implementation of checklists to enhance adherence to proper insertion practices.For the recommendation, it is suggested to conduct similar assessments in other hospitals across different regions in Lebanon in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of CLABSI prevention practices.