Articles
Olive Lee is a practicing nurse who has carried out extensive research into the prevention of infections associated with Central Venous Catheters (CVCs). She shares about her research on Nurse TV Australia. This presentation is very helpful since it helps reduce complications associated with Central Venous Catheters (CVCs). Central Venous Catheters helps patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) who require administration of many drugs. A CVC is a small plastic device that is inserted to a large vein in the upper body or the abdomen. An improvement in the care of CVCs will reduce infections at a high rate while at the same time enhances the quality of services in the ICU. Moreover, it will reduce the costs incurred during treatment because of the use of fewer antibiotics required to treat CVCs related infections. As a result, treatment will be more focused on the main diseases and health issues affecting the patient.
The purpose of her research is to help prevent infections that are associated with Central Venous Catheters (CVCs). According to Olive Lee, some of the fluids and medication can be irritating to the small veins and tissues (Hamilton, Bodenham & Wiley InterScience, 2009). As a result, a larger Catheter known as the Central Venous Catheter (CVC) is inserted to a larger vein that is closer to the heart. However, due to the closeness to the heart as well as the size of this catheter, there is a higher risk of infections that may even result in blood clotting.
In her study, Olive Lee used two stages. The first one was systematic review during her master’s degree. This mainly involved review the best management systems for a CVC from hospitals all around the world.
The second stage involved a twelve (12) month project at a children’s hospital. This involved collection of data from all the catheters with the objective of investigating the infection rate and blood clotting rate at the hospital (Gorbach, 2004). According to Olive, the CVC is different from a peripheral catheter that is used on small veins, therefore, its tip does not reach the heart or the larger veins. The peripheral catheter is less risky as compared to the CVC.
Yes, some of Olive’s findings and recommendations are being implemented in her practice. Other staffs at the hospital are now more aware and educated on the management of this type of Catheters. However, although it is not easy for her to study and work at the same time, Olive intends to carry out further research in order to identify the best method of management of the catheters to reduce infection rates and costs incurred by patients and their families.
A research project involves dedication of many hours of research and study to get credible research findings. Therefore, recommendations and results of an evaluated study should be utilized to benefit all people around the world. The major milestones achieved today in medicine are great as a result of the utilization of research projects similar to this project by Olive Lee. These shows the importance of continuous research in the field of medicine with the main objectives of reducing risks of infection or death, cutting costs and progressing in the industry.
References
Gorbach, S. L. (2004). Infectious diseases. Philadelphia, Pa. [u.a.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Hamilton, H., Bodenham, A., & Wiley InterScience (Online service). (2009). Central venous catheters. Chichester, U.K: Wiley-Blackwell.
