Implementing an Oral Care Protocol in a Hospital Setting to Reduce Non-Ventilator Hospital Acquired Pneumonia
Date
2021-05-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Oral care is a modifiable risk factor for NV-HAP yet oral care provision at the selected facility was inconsistent due to inaccessible or unavailable oral care supplies, possible low priority with nursing staff, and lack of a standard oral care protocol. An oral care protocol was implemented within the hospital setting to reduce NV-HAP. The protocol included all inpatient adult units, excluding labor and delivery along with the centers for mental health units. Evaluation of the project was conduction through pre and post intervention comparison of ICD-10 codes, nursing documentation of oral care, oral care prevalence survey, and nursing knowledge survey. Post implementation evaluation data showed an increase in oral care practice based on nursing documentation, availability and use of oral care supplies. Improved understanding of providing oral care to prevent HAP, made oral care a higher priority for nursing staff. While data was limited, a decrease in NV-HAP was noted the month following the oral care protocol implementation.
Description
item.page.type
Thesis
item.page.format
Keywords
Oral hygiene, Oral care, Nursing care, Hospital acquired pneumonia, Non-ventilator hospital acquired pneumonia