Adult Patients With Chronic Illnesses Essay

The article Infection Control in Home Care was given by Emily Rhinehart in April 2001. This article is about the home care and infection control in the United States of America. This article stated that, in the past decades, the scope and intensity of home care have increased, whereas the strategies and prevention solutions of infection surveillance and control efforts have fallen behind (Rhinehart, 2001). Lack of applicable and consistent methods for surveillance and acute-care practices of prevention are needed to control infections. The article provides an understanding about the appropriate strategy and need of training to assess the infectious disease and their risk. In addition, the author has also stated the

Quality improvement issues in healthcare focus on the care that patients receive and the outcomes that patients experience. Nurses play a major advocacy role for ensuring safe and quality care to all patients. Also, nurses share the responsibility in leading the efforts in improving patient care in all settings (Berwick, 2002). One of the ongoing problems plaguing hospitals and nursing homes is the development of new pressure ulcers in patients after admission. A pressure ulcer can be defined as a localized area of necrotic tissue that is likely to occur after soft tissue is compressed between a bony prominence and a surface for prolonged periods of time (Andrychuk, 1998). According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid,

Although the situation was quite challenging, it provided me with some useful experiences for the future practice. I understand that all institutions should have a policy for documenting the assessment of patients, including pressure ulcers (Morison 2001). I have come to be familiar with the homes assessment policy using the Sterling Pressure Sore Severity Scale and most importantly I have learned that by using a universal assessment tool it supports a systemic and consistent approach to pressure ulcer evaluation. This therefore supporting continuity of care.

Fortunately, according to Chan et al., (2008), 95% of pressure ulcers can be prevented and nursing care is believed to be a primary method of preventing pressure ulcer development. Research was conducted on accredited search databases such as CINAHL, Nursing Resource Center and OvidSP on prevention measures for pressure ulcers. A number of credible evidence based research was found that supported the nursing intervention of

The primary goals for conducting nursing research are to generate new knowledge to promote positive outcomes for patients, enhance quality and cost-effectiveness of care, improve the healthcare delivery system, and validate the credibility of the nursing profession through evidence-based practice (Schmidt & Brown, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to explore the practice-related problem of pressure ulcers and the importance of the problem in the nursing profession.

"Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers were shown to be an important risk factor associated with mortality," per Dr. Courtney Lyder, of the UCLA School of Nursing. "It is incumbent upon hospitals to identify individuals at high risk for these ulcers and implement preventive interventions immediately upon admission." Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores often occurs when patients have limited mobility and unable to reposition themselves in bed causing injury caused by pressure, friction and

20). Further, the presence of pressure ulcers places a burden on patients and their family (Grinspun, 2005, p.21). As recommended by Grinspun (2005), pillows and foam wedges to separate prominences of the body and lifting devices have been beneficial to avoid friction (p. 32). Research suggests that the majority of pressure ulcers can be avoided. Although, the population at risk likely suffers from the possible contributors, as stated repositioning at least every 2 hours or sooner was effective (Grinspun, 2005, p. 32). When practicing I will reposition patients at appropriate times to reduce the risk of damage to the skin. Additionally, when moving a patient up in bed, I will request adequate assistance from other nursing staff to use a lifting device. This will help to avoid friction while the patient is being moved, ultimately reducing the development of pressure

Studies have pointed out that nurses possess a significant role and extensive knowledge in pressure ulcer prevention. Instructive programs in the hospitals give great learning to nurses about the preventive and treatment techniques for

People are living longer and want to live independently as long as possible, but the aged people living alone with chronic diseases face threats on their safety and well-being. The patient Salle Mae Fisher featured in “The Home Visit with Sallie Mae Fisher” (Grand Canyon University, 2016), is an eighty two years old woman who has been recently discharged from hospital after her chronic disease conditions are intensified. She has been scheduled for a homecare visit by the nurses. In this paper prioritized problems and identified risks during the home visits, will be described with evidence, as well as the recommendations and interventions to help make Sallie Mae safer at home.

Pressure ulcer prevention has been the nursing worry for many years. Florence Nightingale in 1859 wrote, “If he has a bedsore, it’s generally not the fault of the disease, but of the nursing” (Nightingale, F). People may think pressure ulcers associated with poor nursing care. Prevention of pressure ulcers is a multidisciplinary responsibility; however, nurses have a primary role. Patient participation in prevention of pressure ulcers (pup) care has been shown to result in improved patient safety and satisfaction with care ((Weingart, S.N., Zhu, J., Chiappetta, L., Stuver, S.O., Schneider, E.C., Epstein, A.M. 2011). Purpose of the study includes the nurses and patients partnering together with prevention of pressure ulcers (pup) may be an effective strategy for reducing pressure ulcers (PU) among at-risk individuals. So the research team developed a pressure ulcer prevention care bundle (PUPCB) targeted at both patients and nurses, encouraging patient participation in PUP care with three simple evidence-based messages: 1) Keep moving; 2) Look after your skin; and 3) Eat a healthy diet. Messages were provided to patients with a poster, brochure and DVD. Nurses had training regarding how to be companion with patients in pressure ulcer prevention (Roberts et al. 2016).

Pressure ulcer is an adverse outcome in the clinical care setting that also linked to poor quality of nursing care. Though pressure should never happen in a professional care setting, it is still prevalent throughout the world’s medical settings. This article looks at many other previous studies from 1992 to present to compare and find the underlying issues that may contribute to pressure ulcer. A closer look at the nurse’s knowledge versus actual decision will be observe, because it is the key factor in pressure ulcer prevention.

There are two main measures of medical underservice in the U.S., health professional shortage areas and medically underserved areas and some special need populations. Both measures require communities to apply for designation. These designations allow the government to target resources to those determined to be most in need (Colwill and Cultice, 2003).

Though quality and safety is being improved daily, the progress of implementation is difficult to gauge. Staffing seems to be a problem in home healthcare nursing because the turnover rate is high. There is often a shortage of nurses; most nurses get burned out only after a few months on the job. Other quality issues include ineffective communication between physicians and nursing staff, as well as the lack of physician to physician communication. Long shifts that nurses work often contribute to fatigue. However, patient safety and handling is an issue that is often overlooked in home healthcare. More times than often, patients have inadequate education on their diseases or how the disease process works. This is mainly observed in diabetes and heart patients. Standard operating procedures (SOP) for nurses need to be updated to include the specifics of certain disease processes and treatment of diseases. Also, patients and their families should be given choice in all aspects of the care that is being

Home health care has become an increasingly acceptable and popular form of health care provided to patients for acute, chronic, and terminal illnesses. Home health continues to rise in demand for a variety of reasons. Home health is a cost effective method of providing patients with the care that they require (Phipps, Monahan, Sands, Marek, & Neighbors, 2003, p.154). Patients can receive needed care without the added cost of a hospital stay or an extended hospital stay. This helps to lower the cost for hospitals, insurance companies, public assistance, and the patient. Other added benefits to patients receiving home health care are a decrease in nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections, improved nutritional status, personalization of

According to Healthy People 2012 there are more then 800,000 new cases of diabetes each year, with the numbers on the rise. With this in mind, Healthy People 2012 has identified diabetes as their number five focus area. In order to reach their goal of improving the quality of life for people with diabetes they have identified diabetes teaching as their number one objective. Furthermore, in order to reduce the number of complications of diabetes, Healthy People 2012 has identified foot ulcers as their ninth objective. Through patient education Healthy People 2012 hopes to reduce the number of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, as diabetes is the number one cause of nontraumatic amputations in the United States. In order to