2007 AACN excellence in leadership award.

For the past 26 years, I have worked in the surgical ICU at Johns Hopkins Hospital. My first safety project involved the elimination of catheter-related bloodstream infections (BSI). Taking care of an acute septic patient, I realized I wanted to improve the quality of care our patients receive. In reviewing the evidence for best practice, we started with good hand-washing, sterile barrier precautions and use of chlorhexidine prep. I designed the "line cart," which contains all supplies needed to maintain central-line placement compliance. Development of a care team checklist empowers nurses to ensure all safety initiatives are observed. Implementation of these safety initiatives has decreased our BSI rates from 19.7/catheter days to 0/catheter days (the SICU has not had a catheter-related BSI in the past 19 months). We call this our CR-BSI Bundle, which is now being used by other healthcare providers nationally as well as internationally. Being known as "the change agent" for the SICU, I have led the following projects: Medication Reconciliation, Ventilator Bundle, Tight Glucose Control, DVT Prevention, Surgical Site Infection, Heparin Protocol and Sepsis Bundle.

Leading these ongoing safety initiatives has challenged me as a bedside nurse to continue to seek opportunities for improved patient care. Despite the risk of introducing new concepts to staff members, the success of my outcomes continues to keep me motivated. I am now the project manager for several safety collaboratives throughout the hospital and look forward to providing the best for every patient who passes through Johns Hopkins Hospital. When I started my nursing career, my perception was to take care of patients. However, now with my nursing experience, my goal is to provide every patient in every hospital the care they deserve. I truly believe that one person can make a difference!

Deborah B. Hobson, BSN 

Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD