Discussion/Implications
The outcomes of this evidence-based change project validate
the effectiveness of education on CVAD management. Not only
did the nurses’ knowledge of EBP related to CVAD flushing
improve with education, but their actual flushing technique
also improved. A major limitation of this project involved time
and scheduling constraints that prevented observing the same
nurses flushing CVADs pre- and post-education. Attributing
outcomes related to flushing technique exclusively to education
of the nurses may not be appropriate. Some of the nurses who
were observed pre-education but not post-education may still
be flushing inappropriately. Likewise, some of the nurses who
were observed post-education and not pre-education may have
been flushing appropriately prior to implementation of this EBP
change project. The outcomes related to knowledge of CVAD
management are appropriately perceived as related to education
as the same nurses were evaluated pre- and post-education.