Reducing Tubing and Device Misconnections.

Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement (QI) project was to explore prevention strategies to reduce tubing and device misconnections that cause patient harm and death. Practicing evidence-based techniques can improve rates of nursing-sensitive indicators, such as central line-associated bloodstream infections, and increase patient safety.

Methods: Our nursing quality management team reviewed internal quality data and found 11 reported misconnections. A literature review was performed to identify recommended prevention strategies that have been used to improve patient outcomes. Recommended strategies included promoting environmental safety, providing adequate education to clinicians on adverse events, performing line tracing and line reconciliation, and reporting all errors in real time.The nursing quality management team provided education on recommended best practices to prevent misconnection to various stakeholders. Nursing policies and standards of care were revised to include the practice of line tracing and line reconciliation during handoff, admission, transfers, and clinical tests and procedures.

Results: The nursing quality management team gathered postimplementation data on education and policy changes. Two incidents of misconnection occurred within four months. In their reports, clinicians adopted the language of line tracing and line reconciliation when describing the events and actions performed.

Conclusion: Implementation of prevention strategies, including adequate education, enabled staff to identify the risk of misconnections and potential adverse events. Clinical staff incorporated line tracing and reconciliation into their practice, improving patient outcomes.