Standardizing LVAD Dressing Changes While Improving Patient Education

Project Topic:

Standardized LVAD Dressing Change Education

Hospital, City and State:

Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina

Unit:

• 7B Cardiac Telemetry/Advanced Heart Failure

CSI Participants:

• Sarah Kopp, BSN, RN
• Anna Murphy, ADN, RN
• Cat Summerell, BSN, RN, CV-BC

Project Goals/Objectives:

1. Reduce hospital length of stay (LOS) by 5% within 12 months
2. Increase the AACN Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) True Collaboration score from 3.37 (“Somewhat Healthy”) to 4.0 (“Moderately Healthy”)
3. Reduce nurse burnout (Oldenburg Burnout Inventory) from 40.47 to 30 within12 months
4. Achieve 90% caregiver competency validation using the standardized LVAD education process
5. Achieve 90% nurse compliance with the standardized education process

Project Outcomes:

1. Reduced hospital length of stay by 7% within 12 months
2. Increased the AACN Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) True Collaboration score from 3.37 (“Somewhat Healthy”) to 4.0 (“Moderately Healthy”)
3. Reduced nurse burnout (Oldenburg Burnout Inventory4) from 40.47 to 37.55 within 12 months
4. Achieved 97% caregiver competency validation using the standardized LVAD education process
5. Achieved 66% nurse compliance with all required components of the standardized education process, with 90% completing at least one required component
6. These outcomes resulted in a positive estimated annual fiscal impact of $477,900

Project Overview:

The lack of standardized caregiver education for sterile LVAD dressing changes presented several challenges: increased nurse stress, prolonged hospital length of stay, inconsistent communication and caregiver confusion.

To decrease burnout and reduce hospital length of stay, we implemented a project designed to standardize LVAD dressing change education through a multi-phase process which included the creation of a caregiver education bundle, an education tracking tool and a validation checklist.

With the implementation of our project, the average length of stay from LVAD implant to discharge was reduced from 21 days to 19 days and our Healthy Work Environment Score increased from a “Somewhat Healthy” score of 3.37 to a “Moderate Healthy” Score of 4.0.

Feedback from teammates regarding our interventions has been extremely positive. Nurses have expressed appreciation for the project’s ability to transition caregiver education away from the bedside, so that more time can be spent prioritizing patient care. Caregivers have reported increased confidence with LVAD driveline dressing changes. Dedicated time to learn, practice and ask questions in a structured environment has helped caregivers feel more comfortable and better prepared to safely care for their loved one at home.

Overall, the project has strengthened collaboration and created a more coordinated approach to caregiver education. Shared communication and accountability ensure the unit understands each caregiver’s progress, improving consistency and satisfaction for everyone involved.