Just wanted to give a quick update on my change project. I talked to one of the nurses at the hospital where the change from non-safety needles to safety needles was implemented and she had told me that she has already had several episodes where the new safety needles has potentially protected here from a needle stick. I think that it is great that this change was successful and there has already been good results from the change. The nurse also told me that everyone is really getting use to the needles and really like them, even some of the ones that at first did not like the idea. This change has only been implemented completely for several weeks now and already there have been potential preventions from needle sticks. I can't imagine how many needle sticks will be prevented through the years. Hopefully this will continue to be a success and everyone will continue to like and get use to the change.

Well, I can definitely say that this has been a very busy semester and I am so happy it is almost over. I will be finished with my BSN, but will continue on for my FNP. It feel great to be finishing up, but I still anticipate my summer classes, so it is a little hard to be completely relieved. I have learned a lot this semester, especially about being able to implement a change within the hospital. It does give me more confidence knowing that this is something that I can do. At the time it seems really overwhelming, but after you get started, everything just falls into place. The best thing for me is that I started the project last semester, so I did not have to start from scratch. Anyway, hope everyone has a great summer and does well in whatever educational goals they are pursuing.

Well, I am now finished with my change paper, but I still want to read over it a few more times before I submit it. I am very glad that we started this project last semester in Leadership. I feel that it helped me out so much by having already started this project and having an idea of what I was going to do. Now the only thing left for me to do is concentrate on studying for my final Physical Assesment in my Advanced Assessment class. I will feel much better once this is over. It seems strange to be graduating this May, but turn around and take classes this summer. But I am motivated to finish with my FNP by Dec 2011. It does feel wonderful though to finish the goal of getting my BSN. One step closer to my final goal of FNP!!!

Since this is towards the end of the semester, I have a lot going on with finishing up all my classes. I am now finished completely with 3 classes and still have a little to do in 2 (including this class). I am very ready to finish this semester and take a small break. I will graduate with my BSN May 15, but will then turn around and take 2 summer classes. I thought I would be off for the summer, but as it turns out I need to take a few classes. Only 18 more months to go and I will be completely finished with my FNP. I am fininishing up on writing my change paper for this class and hopefully will be done early next week. Then I will need to focus most attention to studying for my final physical assesment for Advanced Assessment class. I will be so glad to get that finished. I really need a break, even if it is only a couple of weeks!

As for the question Dr. Anderson asked about teaching VN students, I have thought about doing that before. Some programs allow you to teach LVN class with just your ADN. I was going to do that earlier this year but it was just not going to work with my schedule. It is a possiblilty that I would do this in the future while working on my FNP, but once I finish with my Masters, I have to work as a FNP. I have to admit it does have to do with the money aspect of things. I would rather teach if I had my ultimate choice, but the pay does make a difference in my choice. I wish money did not have to be an option, but unfortunately it does. I will enjoy being a FNP though, but in the future I hope to be able to just teach, whether it be LVN, ADN, BSN, or MSN. As for my week, I am going to start putting all my information about my change project into a paper. I am finished with everything and the project is in motion. Once all the new supplies are in, the hospital will no longer use the older style needles without a safety feature in place. Everyone is on board and the project I feel will be a success.

Mid-Semester Evaluation

Course Objectives:
1. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with individuals, groups, and health care providers. I feel that I have had the chance to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with the above during the process of implementing my change project. I have had to discuss this change project at length with the CEO and DON of the hospital as well as the nursing and lab staff. I have had the chance to give out written material as well that shows in great detail the reasons behind this project in order to have everyone understand the importance why I am implementing this project. I feel that being able to effectively communicate has been the key that has allowed me to continue on with this and the key to making the project successful.

2. Discuss current trends and issues in the nursing profession. We have had the opportunity to discuss some of these via DB. I feel that more and more nurses have decided to become politically active in order to make better working conditions for themselves and safer and better care for their patients. I also feel that the current trends of medical technology have been discussed via DB. We have had the opportunity to discuss how the change in technology has helped nursing as a profession. Being able to discuss this through DB has allowed me to really think about these changes and trends in nursing, especially the question that we had to discuss over EBP. This is definitely a trend in the medical profession that is being used to provide for better and safer care for our patients.

Personal Objectives:
1. Feel more confident in my abilities to implement my change project. I definitely feel more confident at this point after discussing this change project with the key personnel that will either make or break the project. The CEO and DON are very supportive of this change and have given great feedback on the information that I have presented. With the positive feedback, I have began to have a lot more confidence in myself and do not feel intimidated to keep pursuing this change.

2. Have a successful in-service to help nursing and lab staff understand the importance of the change project. I have had the opportunity to have an in-service with the nursing and lab personnel that went very well. For the most part, everyone feels comfortable with the newer style needles and are on board with the change. I have had very good feedback from the staff regarding this change.

Overall review of Personal Objectives: I feel that I have had the chance to meet my objectives so far. I have gained much more confidence in my abilities in making change within a facility. I also feel that I have brought very important information to the staff that has made them feel better about the use of the new safety system. I have received great feedback from all staff involved, from the nursing and lab staff to the CEO and DON.

One way these behaviors have fostered your growth as a professional nurse. I feel that I have better communication skills and have much more confidence in myself. Before I began this project, I felt that I may not have the ability to make such a change within a hospital. Now, I know it is possible with the increased confidence in myself and the positive feedback that I have received from others.

I have recently been working on getting information together on what it would cost switching from the original needles to the new safety needles. I talked to our DON to get a round about cost on what they spent monthly on the current needles they use. This is a small hospital, so the cost for this hospital is very small compared to a large hospital. Monthly, between blood collection needles, IV catheters, and injection needles, it cost the hospital approximately $658.00, or approximately $ 7,900.00 per year. After checking the cost of the more advanced safety needles, I found that it would cost the hospital approximately 1,200.00 per month, or 14,400.00 per year. It would cost the hospital about $6,500 more a year to switch to the newer style needles. From my research on needlesticks, one needlestick that does not result in transmission of blood borne illness can cost up to $3,000, and if someone is infected by a needlestick, it can cost 1 million or more with all the medical treatment, medications, and lawsuits. So I think that it is worth the extra money to help reduce the chance of needlesticks in order to protect the hosptial from possibly being out a million dollars or more if there were an employee that contacted an illness from a needlestick. I checked to see how many needlesticks the hosptial has had over the past 5 years, and it ranges from none to as many as 4 in one year. The total over the past 5 years has been 8 needlesticks between nursing and lab staff. Thankfully no sticks have resulted in transmission of disease, but if you think about the money spent by the hospital over the past 5 years, approximately $24,000, it could have been possible to reduce that amount by having the safety needles. I know that needlesticks can happen with the safety needles as well, but the chances are much less. Even a reduction of 3 sticks could have saved $9,000. I will take this information to the CEO and DON and continue to discuss the positive results that can occur by switching to the safety needles.