Dissertation
Utilizing Urinary Catheter Care Bundles to Reduce Catheter Acquired Urinary Tract Infections
University of Iowa
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
Summer 2026
Abstract
Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common healthcare-associated infections and are associated with increased patient morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and higher healthcare costs. A 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital experienced CAUTI rates that exceeded its organizational benchmark, highlighting the need to improve adherence to evidence-based catheter care practices. Purpose: To improve utilization of an evidence-based catheter care bundle by enhancing nurses' knowledge, improving documentation compliance, and reducing CAUTI rates. Methods: This quality improvement project was guided by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Model for Improvement and the Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) framework. Interventions included staff education, catheter care competency check-offs, educational resources, biweekly documentation audits, and performance feedback. Outcomes included nurses' knowledge, documentation compliance, and CAUTI incidence. Findings: Eleven nurses completed the pre-intervention knowledge assessment (mean = 78.3%), and 43 completed the post-intervention assessment (mean = 100%), demonstrating a 21.7% improvement in knowledge. During implementation, N = 423 documentation audits were completed, with 52.2% meeting the compliance criterion; therefore, the documentation objective was not achieved. However, CAUTI rates decreased from five infections during the pre-implementation period (4.16 per 1,000 catheter days) to zero during implementation, representing a 100% reduction in observed CAUTI events. Discussion: Education, competency validation, audit and feedback, and leadership support improved nurses' knowledge and were associated with reduced CAUTI rates. Ongoing education, routine audits, and organizational support may help sustain evidence-based catheter care practices.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Utilizing Urinary Catheter Care Bundles to Reduce Catheter Acquired Urinary Tract Infections
- Creators
- Beatrice Siria - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Michelle Gillitzer (Chair) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Poster
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (Primary Care)
- Date degree season
- Summer 2026
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 1 page
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2026 Beatrice Siria
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Nursing; Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
- Record Identifier
- 9985218637102771
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