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Recommended Citation
Atkinson M, Verenski J. Implementing Blood Culture Collection Education for Emergency Department Nurses. Quality Improvement poster presented at Transforming Practice: The Intersection of Technology and Nursing Excellence; Advocate Health Nursing Research and Professional Development Conference 2025; November 12, 2025; Virtual.
Presentation Notes
Quality Improvement poster presented at Transforming Practice: The Intersection of Technology and Nursing Excellence; Advocate Health Nursing Research and Professional Development Conference 2025; November 12, 2025; Virtual.
Abstract
Background: One of the most common nursing procedures in the emergency department is blood specimen collection. Blood specimen collections are used for diagnosis and treatment. Incorrect collection of blood cultures leads to redraws, which delays patient care and treatment. A lack of adequate training among emergency department staff has resulted in errors in specimen collection.
Local Problem: There was a lack of education provided for emergency department teammates for proper collection of blood cultures. This led to incorrectly collecting blood cultures. Improper blood culture collection resulted in high contamination rates in 2023 (goal is less than or equal to 2.3%). In 2023, of the 8429 specimens collected, 220 were contaminated (2.6% average contamination rate).
Method: Education was provided to n=45 emergency department teammates in December 2023. The education was based on current polices and procedures for blood culture collection. Teammates signed the competency validation only after the education stating they know the proper techniques to collect blood cultures. The staff that had two or more contaminations in a month were then provided post-contamination coaching.
Results/Conclusion: Condell emergency department collected 7202 blood cultures (n=134 contaminated), accounting for 1.9% average
contamination rate. The emergency department went from 2.6% average contamination rate in 2023 to 1.9% in 2024 after education, competency, and post contamination coaching. Blood culture contamination report in February 2025 had six contaminations out of 535 blood cultures collected. This is a 1.1% contamination rate. Only one out of 45 trained teammates needed re-competency after provided education.
Implications for practice: Emergency department teammates reduced contamination rates after education, re-competency, and post contamination coaching. The emergency department educator has implemented the education for blood culture collection to all new hire teammates.
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
11-12-2025
Implementing Blood Culture Collection Education for Emergency Department Nurses
Background: One of the most common nursing procedures in the emergency department is blood specimen collection. Blood specimen collections are used for diagnosis and treatment. Incorrect collection of blood cultures leads to redraws, which delays patient care and treatment. A lack of adequate training among emergency department staff has resulted in errors in specimen collection.
Local Problem: There was a lack of education provided for emergency department teammates for proper collection of blood cultures. This led to incorrectly collecting blood cultures. Improper blood culture collection resulted in high contamination rates in 2023 (goal is less than or equal to 2.3%). In 2023, of the 8429 specimens collected, 220 were contaminated (2.6% average contamination rate).
Method: Education was provided to n=45 emergency department teammates in December 2023. The education was based on current polices and procedures for blood culture collection. Teammates signed the competency validation only after the education stating they know the proper techniques to collect blood cultures. The staff that had two or more contaminations in a month were then provided post-contamination coaching.
Results/Conclusion: Condell emergency department collected 7202 blood cultures (n=134 contaminated), accounting for 1.9% average
contamination rate. The emergency department went from 2.6% average contamination rate in 2023 to 1.9% in 2024 after education, competency, and post contamination coaching. Blood culture contamination report in February 2025 had six contaminations out of 535 blood cultures collected. This is a 1.1% contamination rate. Only one out of 45 trained teammates needed re-competency after provided education.
Implications for practice: Emergency department teammates reduced contamination rates after education, re-competency, and post contamination coaching. The emergency department educator has implemented the education for blood culture collection to all new hire teammates.
Affiliations
Condell Medical Center