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Goal: To provide an overview of the financial burden of catheter-related infections to the healthcare system and ways to reduce and prevent their incidence.

Objectives:

Describe the needs assessment presented and evidence found to reduce and prevent CRIs, and to apply that knowledge to patients on hemodialysis.
Discuss the project overview and work plan implemented in the attempt to reduce and prevent CRIs in this healthcare system.
Explain the change and leadership of the project, as well as the project's outcomes, in the attempt to reduce and prevent CRIs in this healthcare system.

Sources of Support: An ANNA Thesis and Dissertation Research Grant used as partial fulfillment for the requirements of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree awarded by the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, provided funding for the initial project.

Acknowledgments: This project was a team effort. The author appreciated the assistance of the following people: University of Minnesota-School of Nursing Faculty of Kathy White, DNP, CRNA, Kathy Fagerlund, PhD, CRNA, Linda Chlan, PhD, RN; Mentors Robin Beeman, PhD, RN and Matthew Hall, MD; Project Team of Ministry Dialysis-Northridge: H. Thomas Campbell, MD, Narayana Murali, MD, Rosie Frank, RN, CNN, Kathy Jepsen, RN, Jeanne Schreiner, MSN, CNN, Mary Bargander, BSN, RN, Terri Dums, MSN, RN, and Frank Gedney, RN.

Statement of Disclosure: The author reported no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this continuing nursing education activity.

Christine Bakke DNP, APNP, CNN-NP, FNP-BC

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