Quality improvement: Adherence to nurse-driven heparin protocols

Nursing. 2019 May;49(5):66-69. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000554212.71309.d1.

Abstract

Purpose: This study assessed the impact of process standard work, a quality improvement tool, on staff adherence to nurse-driven unfractionated heparin (UFH) protocols in adult patients at a community teaching hospital.

Methods: This was a retrospective quality improvement project, and statistical analysis was performed by a senior research specialist at the facility.

Results: In total, 109 venous thromboembolism or cardiac UFH anticoagulant protocols were included in the final analysis, accounting for 445 activated partial thromboplastin time results.

Conclusion: There was no change in adherence to a nurse-driven UFH protocol among adult patients after the implementation of process standard work.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clinical Protocols*
  • Heparin / administration & dosage*
  • Hospitals, Community
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Medication Adherence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Practice Patterns, Nurses'*
  • Quality Improvement*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Heparin