Please use this paper below for background. Please complete a journal, this is my 11th and last week having been assigned to a medical surgical unit. The CAUTI rate has decreased from 20 to 2 compared to January last year. My preceptor was simply the best with partnering with me on huddles, leadership meetings, quality meetings etc, she was very motivating and inspiring. The meetings in the time log should pretty much be the same.
Time Log
WK Date Time # of hours Learning objective Course objective AACN
Essentials Projected Goal Activities completed Status of completion
1 2024-01-01 0900hrs 2 Understand CAUTI Gain insight Attended Caiti seminar completed
2 2024-01-02 1300hrs 2 Leadership skills Improve skills Leadership development seminar completed
3 2024-01-03 1500hrs 2 Leadership in Nursing Apply knowledge Nursing leadership meeting completed
4 2024-01-04 1000hrs 2 Effective communication Enhance skills Interdisciplinary meeting(patient 1) completed
5 2024-01-05 1400hrs 2 Multidisciplinary collaboration Apply knowledge Interdisciplinary meeting(Patient 2) completed
6 2024-01-06 1100hrs 0 Reflective practice Journal
Entry Journal and documentation In progress
Journal Entry
Plan for my Practicum: Week 1-3:
In the first three weeks of my practicum, I concentrated on fundamental aspects related to CAUTIs. In the course of my attendance at the CAUTI seminar, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of what causes this infection. It became obvious to me that CAUTIs are often associated with poor care of catheters, where microorganisms can penetrate the urinary tract either during insertion or if the drainage bag is not properly emptied (CDC 2021). Using this new insight, my main aim is to highlight the role of judicial use of Foley catheters when strictly necessary.
Attending the Leadership Development Seminar and Nursing Leadership Meeting at once was most helpful to me, significantly contributing to enhancing my leadership abilities. These discussions followed the AACN essentials as they focused on excellent leadership in healthcare. I realize that establishing a culture of collaboration and transparency is the way to go in decreasing CAUTI rates. In my early weeks of practicum, I want to actively contribute to daily debates regarding the necessity for insertions of Foley catheters as a component towards decreasing incidences of CAUTI.
Weeks 4-6
During the fourth to sixth weeks into my practicum, active participation in Interdisciplinary Meetings becomes a major focus. This stage reflects a critical juncture in the CAUTI prevention project. These meetings create an interactive environment for consensus building where the doctors and nurses deliberate on whether or not a Foley catheter should be used in particular patients.
In these sessions, my role is not just an onlooker. I will be actively involved by offering comprehensive information on patients who have Foley catheters. In my discussions with you, I will rely on evidence-based data as a lens to determine whether or not catheterization is necessary. By integrating my knowledge gained through coursework about interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based solutions, I aim to contribute positively to the team’s decision-making.
Besides this, these weeks provide a unique opportunity to interact with healthcare professionals and develop better communication skills. There should be a free exchange of ideas, concerns need to be aired out and create an understanding of what matters most in the lives of patients. Based on the leadership capabilities I have acquired during this quarter, my goal is to foster an environment of fairness that values honesty as well as teamwork.
Finally, we aim to develop an integrated catheter management approach that meets the standards of evidence-based practice and AACN essentials. This collaborative initiative not only aims to decrease CAUTI incidence rates but also promotes a culture of shared responsibility and continuous improvement in terms of patient outcomes.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC). (2021). Catheter-Associated urinary tract infections, 2020.
Godfrey, H., & Fraczyk, L. (2005). Preventing and managing catheter-associated urinary tract infections. British Journal of Community Nursing, 10(5), 205-212.
