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BSNU Capstone (Western Governors University) D226 Task 1:
Change Proposal
WGU
Comprehensive Healthcare Change Proposal
Jesse Poling
College of Health Professions, Western Governors University
D226: BSNU Capstone
Kelly Martin
, 2
A1. Innovative Change
The proposal I would like to present is to change how daily urinary catheter hygiene is
managed to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). The change is quite
simple: switch from the current hygiene standards, which use saline-based catheter care wipes
twice daily, to Chlorhexidine (CHG) wipes every 12 hours, from the navel to the knees and after
bowel incontinence. Patients in the home care setting would receive CHG wipes from their RN
caregiver or shipped to their home directly along with their other supplies. RNs would teach the
patient and family how to use them properly and educate them on the reason and benefits of
making this change. While this would take slightly more time and money initially, it would
significantly reduce the chance of patients developing a CAUTI and requiring additional
healthcare support.
A1a. Authorized Proposed Change
Please see the attached Verification Form.
A1b. Organizational Sponsor Discussion
I discussed my change proposal with RayLee Bierly, a nurse manager for a local non-
profit that provides home health and hospice services throughout Western Montana. She sees
many patients who require long-time use of indwelling urinary catheters, many of whom
experience at least one CAUTI during the time that they require a catheter. I shared with her
the research results I found regarding changing from saline-based catheter wipes to CHG-based
wipes. She was very excited about the positive potential impact that this change could have on
BSNU Capstone (Western Governors University) D226 Task 1:
Change Proposal
WGU
Comprehensive Healthcare Change Proposal
Jesse Poling
College of Health Professions, Western Governors University
D226: BSNU Capstone
Kelly Martin
, 2
A1. Innovative Change
The proposal I would like to present is to change how daily urinary catheter hygiene is
managed to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). The change is quite
simple: switch from the current hygiene standards, which use saline-based catheter care wipes
twice daily, to Chlorhexidine (CHG) wipes every 12 hours, from the navel to the knees and after
bowel incontinence. Patients in the home care setting would receive CHG wipes from their RN
caregiver or shipped to their home directly along with their other supplies. RNs would teach the
patient and family how to use them properly and educate them on the reason and benefits of
making this change. While this would take slightly more time and money initially, it would
significantly reduce the chance of patients developing a CAUTI and requiring additional
healthcare support.
A1a. Authorized Proposed Change
Please see the attached Verification Form.
A1b. Organizational Sponsor Discussion
I discussed my change proposal with RayLee Bierly, a nurse manager for a local non-
profit that provides home health and hospice services throughout Western Montana. She sees
many patients who require long-time use of indwelling urinary catheters, many of whom
experience at least one CAUTI during the time that they require a catheter. I shared with her
the research results I found regarding changing from saline-based catheter wipes to CHG-based
wipes. She was very excited about the positive potential impact that this change could have on
