There have been many tactics throughout the years aimed at reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in the healthcare setting. To reduce CLABSI rates at this facility, we employed cognitive science-based online training directed at nursing departments. Following implementation, we found significant reductions in CLABSI rates that were sustained for a minimum of 9 months. These results demonstrate that this learning methodology can be used to help decrease CLABSI and potentially other health care-associated infections.

The distinction between learning and performance is crucial because there now exists overwhelming empirical evidence showing that considerable learning can occur in the absence of any performance gains and, conversely, that substantial changes in performance often fail to translate into corresponding changes in learning.

Knowing how to manage one’s own learning has become increasingly important in recent years, as both the need and the opportunities for individuals to learn on their own outside of formal classroom settings have grown.