Nurses from Lane Regional Medical Center, Louisiana’s first Pathway to Excellence facility, participated in their 4th annual Evidence-Based Practice Expo in January.

Since 2009, nurses throughout the organization have actively engaged in evidence-based practice projects that have changed protocols, improved patient care and positively affected patient outcomes.

The expo provides the participants with an opportunity to showcase their research and positively promote shared governance initiatives.

The following projects were presented at the Expo:

•Does the use of alternative methods in Emergency Department patients with known or suspected difficult IV access decrease IV start attempts and PICC or central line insertion rates? Presented by Melanie Barkley, RN, Emergency Room, and Robin Hart-Smith, RN, Emergency Room.

•Will by-passing the Emergency Room and proceeding straight to the Cardiac Cath Lab improve door to balloon time in patients having an ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)? Presented by Cheryl Castello, RN, Emergency Room, and Eric Rome, RN, BSN, RCIS- Cath Lab.

•After femoral arterial sheath removal, is a decreased flat time and bed rest as effective as the current practice, thereby increasing patient comfort and satisfaction without increasing complications? Presented by Steven Saale, RN, Cath Lab; Kathy Simmons, RN, BSN, Cath Lab; and Karen Williams, RN, BSN, Cath Lab.

•On PICC lines equipped with Max Plus Clear device, are saline flushes as effective as saline and heparin flushes in reducing clots thereby reducing cost and potential adverse effects of heparin? Presented by Margaret Moore, RN, Telemetry, and Katie Varnado, RN, Telemetry.

•In the acute DVT patient, does the use of SCD’s, compared to no SCDs, reduce the occurrence of PE? Presented by Will Boston, RN, BSN, ICU; Sherri Butler, RN, IMC; Crissy Carrier, RN, BSN, ICU; and Lori Grace, RN, Nursing Services.

•In patients undergoing colonoscopy procedures would the use of CO2 vs. room air decrease cramping and abdominal distension thus increasing patient comfort and satisfaction scores? Presented by Melinda Shelton, RN, Special Procedures; and Renee Story, RN, Special Procedures.

•Does bedside rounding report increase effective hand off communication thereby decreasing communication failures and sentinel events? Presented by Renee Story, RN, Special Procedures.

•Does the use of journaling in the adult rehab population increase education in regards to medications, exercises, discharge process and increase HCHAPS scores? Presented by Kristie Edwards, LPN- Lane Rehab Center, and Courtney Tuschl, LPN, Lane Rehab Center.

•Do the benefits of T.E.D hose on adult non-ambulatory patients outweigh the risks? Presented by Valerie Cathey, RN, BSN, CPAN, Operating Room/Recovery Room; and Susan Freebis, RN, Operating Room.

•On in-patients with urine and stool incontinence does breathable attends, pads and fecal incontinence systems help decrease length of stay, financial burden and skin breakdown compared to current practices of managing incontinence? Presented by Jonelle Ducote, RN, Med-Surg; Kristy McMurray, RN, BSN, Med Surg; and Pennie Thompson, RN, BSN, Med-Surg.

For more information on Lane Pathway to Excellence designation, please contact Amy Rome, RN, at 658-4771.