Introduction of Oxygen Target Wristbands on Ward 8b

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Background & Problem:

Ward 8b is a respiratory ward, the majority of our patients are receiving oxygen and some are very sensitive to oxygen which can often lead them to respiratory failure. As a team we found that oxygen was not being prescribed, impacting the amount of oxygen patients were receiving, which led to over oxygenation for certain patient groups.

We sought to find a prompt to aid staff in the prescription & delivery of oxygen which would lead to better compliance with the NEWS2 charts and therefore patient safety.

SMART Aim:

For 50% of patients on ward 8b to have oxygen correctly prescribed and delivered within six months.

Method:

• Collected the baseline data on the use of oxygen on the ward, how well it was prescribed and how well the NEWS2 charts were being used.
• Literature research & British Thoracic Society (BTS) guideline review for oxygen use.
• Driver diagram, measurement plans and PDSA cycle completed
• Staff training/briefing
• Introduced the use of our oxygen wristbands to ward 8b, using bedside posters and patient information leaflets to provide prompts to staff.
• Weekly audits to monitor the use of the wristbands and the impact they had on our outcome measures

Results:

The results showed an improvement in all four areas measured, however the smallest impact is on oxygen being prescribed on the drug charts.

Lessons Learnt:

• Early engagement from stakeholders is key
• Managers providing secured non-clinical time would have made the process far easier
• Better promotion would help with improved staff engagement

Next steps:

• Begin engagement with A&E and AMU at GRH
• Implement on Avening ward in CGH.
• Avening ward staff to facilitate roll out in CGH.