Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Staff Engagement and Empowerment (motivating staff / teamwork / work revamp tackling manpower issue / staff wellness / OSH / retention)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service I (Projects aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery to meet international standards)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Tsang WL(1), MAK WL(1), Chang ST(1), Ho YK(1), Yung HC(1), Wong KY(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital
Introduction :
Tracheostomy care is a critical aspect of patient management in surgical departments worldwide, yet inconsistent practices and the absence of standardized protocols often impede frontline nurses from delivering optimal care. To address these challenges and improve patient outcomes, a comprehensive 5-year project was initiated.
Objectives :
This project aims to standardize tracheostomy care while emphasizing the importance of enhancing and sustaining frontline nurses' awareness and engagement, with a particular focus on protecting their psychological safety. The primary objective of this project is to establish a culture of excellence by empowering frontline nurses with essential resources, education, and support. The project focuses on enhancing and sustaining their awareness and engagement in tracheostomy care, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.
Methodology :
The project is grounded in evidence-based guidelines and protocols for tracheostomy care, which are continuously updated to align with best practices. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, collaboration is fostered among surgeons, nurse consultants and other healthcare professionals to ensure a comprehensive and patient-centered approach. To enhance and sustain nurse awareness, the project incorporates ongoing education and training sessions that cover various aspects of tracheostomy care. Interactive lectures, simulation exercises, and collaborative learning opportunities are employed to augment nurses' knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing tracheostomies. Active participation of nurses in decision-making processes is promoted, fostering ownership and accountability, particularly among the nurse representatives within the working group. Continuous quality improvement is prioritized through regular audits conducted by ward representatives, feedback mechanisms, and monitoring of patient outcomes. Data-driven insights enable the identification of areas for improvement and facilitate targeted interventions. The project creates a supportive environment that encourages open communication and shared learning between surgeons and nurses.
Result & Outcome :
Preliminary results demonstrate significant improvements in patient outcomes, including reduced rates of tracheostomy-related complications, enhanced patient comfort, and increased nurse confidence and job satisfaction. The project has played a pivotal role in fostering a sustainable culture of excellence within the department. Furthermore, its success underscores the importance of continuously enhancing and sustaining nurse awareness and engagement to ensure optimal tracheostomy care in healthcare institutions worldwide.
