AHRQ Safety Program for Long-Term Care: HAIs/CAUTI
Instructions:
- Divide into small groups of two to three people.
- Ask each group to work through each part of the case scenario, pausing for discussion before moving to the next section.
Useful Resources:
Case Study
Valerie Smith is an 80-year-old woman at Shady Oak Nursing Home. She has cognitive issues from a stroke she had 2 years ago. Valerie has a history of frequent urinary tract infections (UTI). Over the last year she has been admitted to the hospital twice for UTI and has had multiple courses of antibiotics. During her last course of antibiotics, Valerie developed a Clostridium difficile infection.
Johnny, Valerie's son, frequently visits his mom at Shady Oak, and is actively engaged in his mother's care. One morning during his visit, Johnny notices his mother is sleepier than normal and that her urine smells bad. Johnny thinks his mother might have another UTI and wants her started on antibiotics right away.
1. Should the attending physician prescribe antibiotics for Valerie? Explain why or why not.
2. How could the nurse respond to Johnny's request to start his mother on antibiotics? Using the TeamSTEPPS tool SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), develop a response to Johnny's concerns.
