Policy and clinical practice: Audit tools to measure adherence.

Background: Clinical practices are supported by policies and guidelines to assist nurses provide quality patient care. Aim: To evaluate the level of renal nurses' compliance to policy and to develop strategies in improving staff 's adherence, three selected renal policies were audited. Method: A 30 day prospective audit on percutaneous vascular catheter exit site dressing and application of Mupirocin^™ Ointment on 18 haemodialysis patients who had a newly inserted or reinserted percutaneous catheter was conducted. Two retrospective audits on peritoneal equilibration test (PET) and dialysis adequacy test (AT) on 164 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients were also conducted. Results: The results showed that the full adherence rate for percutaneous catheterexit site dressing was 50%. The audit revealed that 61% (n=11) had Mupirocin^™ Ointment ordered in the medication charts but only 6 charts were signed by nurses. 65% (n=107) patients had PET performed as per policy. 84% (n=137)patients had AT performed during the survey period. Conclusions: In order to improve quality patient care, continuous monitoring of policy adherence is vital. It is also important to provide education sessions and to encourage all staff to read and make aware of current and new policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]