Abstract

Presented at the 2024 Nursing Research Symposium

Background: Chest tube management is critical in pulmonary care, yet challenges arise with unexpected events such as air leaks, dislodgement, failed clamping trials, and tubing disconnections. Concerns raised by the Pulmonology team highlighted nurses' uncertainties and the frequent need for guidance during these events. This prompted the development of a troubleshooting checklist aimed at providing clear, step-by-step instructions for managing these scenarios. By following structured checklists, nurses can reduce the risk of errors, ensure adherence to best practices, and enhance patient safety. Objectives/Purpose: The primary aim of this quality improvement project was to enhance nurses' confidence in managing chest tube complications through the implementation of a structured troubleshooting checklist. Specifically, the project aimed to assess baseline confidence levels, implement targeted training and checklist utilization, and evaluate post-intervention improvements in confidence and reduction in reliance on immediate clinical support. Methods: Nurse leads from units 6 Medical, 6 South, and 7 Medical participated in initial training sessions focused on the troubleshooting checklist. Following this, training was integrated into the curriculum of acute care professional development days, ensuring broad implementation across relevant nursing staff for all acute care nurses. Pre- and post-training surveys were distributed initially to the nurse leads on 6 Medical, 6 South and 7 Medical and a post survey following professional development days for all acute care nurses at PRMC. Results: Analysis of survey data revealed a significant increase in nurses' confidence levels post-training and checklist implementation. Prior to training, only 61% of nurse leads felt confident in managing chest tube complications, compared to 100% post-training. Following the implementation of the checklist training at acute care professional development days, 99% of nurses reported an increase in confidence in caring for a chest tube patient. There was a notable decrease in the frequency of calls to Pulmonology or managing providers regarding chest tube issues, indicating improved autonomy and proficiency among nursing staff. Conclusion: The implementation of a structured chest tube troubleshooting checklist effectively enhanced nurses' confidence in managing unexpected events. This project demonstrates the importance of targeted training and standardized tools in improving clinical outcomes and reducing reliance on immediate clinical support.

Document Type

Meeting Abstract

Publication Date

11-2024

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