Implications of this EBP change project are multi-faceted.
Because providing knowledge of current and reliable information
about best practice is inherent to the translation of knowledge
into practice (Doran & Sidani, 2006), increasing nurses’
knowledge and skill related to proper flushing of CVADs will
lead to improved patient outcomes. Proper flushing of CVADs
improves catheter patency and allows for the elimination of
heparin in the flushing solution. The use of saline-only flushing
decreases patient risk for HIT, hemorrhage, and erroneous lab
results. Healthcare costs will decrease secondary to the reduced
cost of saline versus heparin. Financial savings will also occur
secondary to a reduction in caring for adverse patient effects
related to heparin use.
Improving the knowledge and skill level of nurses can also
lead to increased job satisfaction. The success of this project
may be used to motivate staff nurses to become more involved
in the discovery and application of EBP. An understanding of
EBP can empower nurses to seek current knowledge related
to other nursing practices as well. Nurses can then advocate
for policy change to transform nursing care from traditionbased
to evidence-based practice. The ultimate impact for any
healthcare institution would be to further the advancement of a
nurse-led climate of inquiry and utilization of research, leading
to achievement of Magnet status. The outcomes of this EBP
change project may be shared with other health care institutions,
both regionally and nationally, to improve patient care
outcomes on a larger scale