title: Utilizing audit to evaluate improvements in continuous veno-venous haemofiltration practices in intensive therapy unit.
abstract: Continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVH) is used regularly in the management of acute renal failure in intensive therapy unit (ITU). A three-staged approach was undertaken involving two audits of practice to improve CVVH record keeping in a 15-bedded cardiac ITU. An initial baseline audit identified a number of areas for improvement in practice. The areas for improvement were implemented then a second audit was repeated. The improvements and practice changes included the dissemination of audit findings to the multidisciplinary team, redesigning the prescription chart to a more user-friendly format and the development of a competency-based CVVH workbook. This nurse-led project demonstrated how positive outcomes and improvements could be achieved with record keeping across the multidisciplinary ITU team.
authors.affiliation: Level 2 Anaesthetic Department, Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne. annette.richardson@nuth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodgers
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards*; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006440:Hemofiltration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009731:Nursing Audit / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D009737:Nursing Records / Q000592:standards*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration