Running head: PICOT STATEMENT PAPER
PICOT Statement Paper
Patricia Roedel
Grand Canyon University: NRS-490
February 2, 2020
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Running head: PICOT STATEMENT PAPER
PICOT Statement
Central Venous Catheters (CVCs) play an important role in the treatment of hospitalized
patients, especially those with critical medical conditions. A CVC is a tube inserted into the large
vein in the neck, chest, groin area or arm used to conduct medical tests or distribute fluids and
medications to the patient.
In most cases these catheters are necessary in saving the patient’s life,
however there is a great risk that the patient contracts a bloodstream infection in the process. In
the United States alone, between 250,000 to 500,000 Catheter Line Bloodstream Infections
(CLABSI) are estimated to occur annually, with 10% to 30% of these cases resulting in mortality
(Haddadin Y and Regunath H, 2019).
CLABSI is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. ,
and has been associated with an increase in patient care cost, morbidity and mortality worldwide
(Haddadin Y and Regunath H, 2019).
This has led to a growing concern over the risk of infection in exposed patients and
emphasized the need to improve care concerning the implantation and maintenance of CVCs.
The Center of Disease Control (CDC), in collaboration with other organizations, has developed
guidelines for the prevention of CLABSI and other healthcare infections. One of these guidelines
is known as the “CL bundle”, which focuses on catheter insertion and maintenance. According to
the CDC, CLABSI is preventable when evidence-based guidelines are properly followed and
implemented. These guidelines have been implemented worldwide with great success; however,
the problem continues to occur at a significant rate. So the question is, why does this continue to
occur? What would be the effectiveness of the CL bundle in reducing CLABSI if all the elements
of the bundle were properly implemented?
This paper will illustrate the effectiveness of this
procedure (CL bundle) when all parts of the bundle are used in full to prevent CLABSI. If
research supports this guideline, this means nurses should be properly educated in understanding
Running head: PICOT STATEMENT PAPER
the importance of being compliant with all CL Bundle care elements to effectively reduce
CLABSI rates.
In this paper, the author will identify the clinical problem and how it can result in
a positive patient outcome by addressing evidence-based solutions, nursing intervention, patient
care, health care agency, and nursing practice.
