| Sumario: | Significance & Background: Patients in hematologyoncology units are among the most vulnerable to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) due to profound immunosuppression from chemotherapy, transplant regimens, and disease-related factors. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing is a critical infection prevention strategy, yet compliance often falls short of institutional benchmarks. On a hematology-oncology inpatient unit, baseline compliance averaged 81%, below the hospital's target of 87%. Nurses recognized that traditional education methods were insufficient to overcome patient resistance, workflow challenges, and usability barriers. This nurse-led project integrated AI education to address these barriers and improve safety for immunocompromised patients. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase CHG bathing compliance from 81% to at least 87% in a hematologyoncology inpatient unit by December 2025, as measured by the epidemiology department's monthly report metrics. Interventions: Beginning in February 2025, interventions included an AI-enhanced digital CHG education module for patients and caregivers, an instructional video tailored to immunocompromised populations, and structured nurse-led teaching integrated into routine care. Nurse champions and leadership supported implementation, with real-time compliance audits, patient surveys, and staff feedback guiding iterative refinements. Sustainability strategies emphasized frontline nurse ownership, workflow integration, and leadership engagement. Results: CHG compliance steadily improved on the hematologyoncology inpatient unit between February and August 2025, as documented by epidemiology monthly report metrics. Rates rose from 80% in February to 81% in March, 83% in April, 84% in May, 83% in June, and 86% in July, averaging 83% across the period from February to July. By August, compliance reached 87%, meeting the hospital's goal. Nurse survey feedback (n = 28) revealed that 93% estimated patients complied with CHG bathing 75-100% of the time, 82% rated the AI education positively, and 50% reported that the tool saved time for other oncology care needs. Discussion: This nurse-led hematology-oncology initiative demonstrated that AI-enhanced patient education can improve compliance and achieve institutional infection-prevention goals. Achieving the 87% benchmark underscores the impact of combining oncology nursing leadership with digital innovation in protecting highly vulnerable patients. While variability in engagement and limited infection-rate data remain challenges, this project offers a scalable and sustainable model for infection prevention, underscoring the vital role of oncology nurses in advancing patient safety through technology-driven quality improvement.
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