Project Scope and Plan (PSP)

General Information:
Project name: VTE prophylaxis education
Project Manager name: Brittany Gudbrandson_
Site: Hackley Hospital Location: North 4
A. Project Overview: Describe the product or service of the project, the
reason project will be undertaken, and the purpose of the project. Discuss
the problem or opportunity this project addresses. Include the quality and
safety issue this project will address. Support with current evidence-based
practice literature or data specific to the project.
Every individual that is admitted to the acute care surgical unit at Hackley
Hospital is ordered some form of VTE prophylaxis. Most commonly, patients
are ordered a mechanical and chemical form of treatment in an effort to
reduce the chance of getting a blood clot while laying in bed. Blood clots are
a deadly complication that can occur in any hospitalization. These become
more of a risk when patients are laying still for prolonged periods of times.
According to one specific article, 1/3 of clots in the veins start in the lower
limbs. These clots are more likely to break loose, or embolize, and travel in to
the lungs (Carothers et al., 2014). This fact alone helps to explain the
importance of this project. Because of the fact that 1/3 of people with a
blood clot could end up with a pulmonary embolism and therefore die, we
can see the vast need for further education. This project will be completed in
an effort to educate patients of the increased risk for blood clots while
admitted as well as increase patient compliance. This educational tool will
also educate patients on how exactly each form of prophylaxis does this. I
believe that increased education should help increase patient compliance.
According to an article in the American Journal of Medicine, this is said to be
true. While most nurses are educating their patients everyday about the VTE
prophylaxis that is ordered, I believe that an extra tool to use during this
education processes would be beneficial for the patients.
Reference:
Carothers, A., Rodriguez, S., Rogers, B., Razmjou, H., Gollish, J. et al. (2014).
Patient reported compliance with thromboprophylaxis using a oral
factor Xa inhibitor following total hip and total knee arthroplasty. The
Journal of Arthroplasty. 29(7), 1463-1467. doi:
10.1016/j.arth.2013.02.001
Gold, D., McClung, B. (2006). Approaches to patient education: Emphasizing
the long-term value of compliance and persistence. The American
Journal of Medicine, 119(4). 3237.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.12.021

B. Project Goal(s): Describe the project goal(s) using SMART (specific,

measurable, accurate and agreed to, realistic, and time bound) formula.
These goals will be used to measure and determine the projects success at
its conclusion.
Develop a new educational tool for patients admitted to North 3/4 that
nurses are able use in order to educate them on the benefits of VTE
prophylaxis (i.e. IPCs, TED hoes, frequent walking and heparin injections) in
order to increase patient compliance by 50% by December 1st, 2015.

C. Project Objectives/Deliverables: List the specific items or services

that must be produced in order to fulfill the goal of the project.
Objectives/deliverables should be measurable results, measurable outcomes
or specific products or services. List and number in a logical order to
complete the project.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Meet with manager and team members to discuss project by 9/27/15

Discuss and confirm what type of educational tool to create by 10/1/15
Research the benefits of VTE prophylaxis by 10/5/15
Meet with team to determine what should be taught based on research
by 10/5/15
Draft copy of educational tool by 10/15/15
Finalize educational tool by 10/20/15
Submit educational tool to print shop by 10/20/15
Implement education for all patients who receive VTE prophylaxis by
10/25/15
Evaluate patient compliance by 11/25/15

D. Comprehensive List of Project Requirements/Activities/Tasks: List

by corresponding objective the necessary specifications of the
objective/deliverable. Example 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, etc
This is a breakdown of the objectives/deliverables into their most basic
components. Consider this the action plan of the project
.
1. Meet with manager and team members to discuss project by 9/27/15
Set up meeting with the manager by 9/15/15
Bring project ideas and requirements
2. Discuss and confirm what type of educational tool to create by 10/1/15
Research different educational tools by 9/27/15
Distribute project ideas among the group by 10/1/15
3. Research the benefits of VTE prophylaxis by 10/5/15

4. Meet with team to determine what should be taught based on research

by 10/10/15
Bring all research topics and ideas
5. Draft copy of educational tool by 10/15/15
Distribute among group members and manager for editing
6. Finalize educational tool by 10/20/15
Distribute finalized product to group members by 10/20/15
7. Submit educational tool to print shop by 10/20/15
Determine number of copies that need to be made by 10/20/15
8. Implement education for all patients who receive VTE prophylaxis by
10/25/15
Provide copies of educational tool to staff members on North 4 to
be used among their patients.
9. Evaluate patient compliance by 11/25/15
Distribute survey among nurses to ask about general patient
compliance among their patients in the past month by 11/25/15

F. Assumptions & Constraints: Identify all project assumptions and

constraints.
Assumptions:
Manager will ok a project to be completed on her unit
Staff members will comply with initiating the new educational tool
Everything will run as planned
Education will increase patient compliance
Deadlines will be met
Constraints:
Resistance to change and implementation
Education does not increase compliance
Nurse managers busy schedule and making appointed meetings

G. Success Criteria: Provide the value of the project. Why is this project
important and of what benefit it is? What impact will it have on client care
and client outcomes including aspects related to quality and safety? How will
you know if the project was a success? Support with evidence-based
literature or nursing data.
This project is important because the risk that comes along with patient
noncompliance is far greater than the temporary discomfort that VTE
prophylaxis offers. When patients are hospitalized, they are at a far greater
risk for developing a blood clot in their lower extremities due to the fact that

they are laying flat in bed for the majority of the time they are in the
hospital. According to Clot Connect (2015), 40% of all VTE are associated
with hospitalization, occurring either in the hospital or shortly after
discharge40& or more of hospital associated VTE is preventable through
prophylaxis. Because of this increased risk, doctors order chemical forms of
prophylaxis, which include either heparin or lovenox, or mechanical forms,
which include TED hoes, IPCS, and simply walking. Most frequently, doctors
order a combination of both. Most often, I see patients resisting some form of
this process because it makes them uncomfortable and I also believe,
because they are uneducated of the benefits of these uncomfortable
things we are asking them to do. By educating them on the importance of
complying to such therapy, I think that they will be more willing to accept
these doctors orders.
Reference:
Clot Connect. (2015). For healthcare professionals: Hospital associated
venous thromboembolism (VTE). Retrieved from
http://www.clotconnect.org/healthcare-professionals/hospital-associatedvenous-thromboembolism-vte
H. Signatures: (no electronic signatures)
Project Manager_____________________________________________
Nurse Manager/Supervisor/: Anna Weller
Phone:
email: anna.weller@mercyhealth.org