Essay On Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers are areas of localised damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by pressure. (Stechmiller et al., 2008) Pressure ulcers still one of the most significant health problem in our hospitals today, It affects on patients quality of life patient self-image and how long they will stay in hospital then the cost of patient treatment . Moore (2005) estimate that it costs a quarter of a million euro’s per annum to manage pressure ulcers in hospital and community settings across Ireland .which allows one to take immediate actions and prevent the ulcer if possible. To support pressure ulcer risk assessment several standardized pressure ulcer risk assessment scales have been introduced

Research Review: What influences the impact of pressure ulcers on health-related quality of life? A qualitative patient-focused exploration of contributory factors by C. Gorecki et. al.

The issue at hand has already been identified as wound care teams being a main key in the prevention and the expensive and extensive treatment of pressure ulcers. Since the research at hand is in need of additions, this project hopes to implement new information. We would aim to conduct

The research article "What influences the impact of pressure ulcers on health-related quality of life? A qualitative patient-focused exploration of contributory factors" was recently published (2012) in the Journal of Tissue Viability by Gorecki, Nixon, Madill, Firth, and Brown. This is a qualitative study.

According to Stockhausen & Conrick (2002), “Learning how to critique research articles is one of the fundamental skills of scholarship in any discipline” (p. 38). Burns & Grove (2011) found “An intellectual critical appraisal of a study involves a careful, complete examination of that study to judge its strengths, weaknesses, meaning, credibility, and significance for practice” (p. 419). The extent, amount and nature of publications accessible today by different means implies it has become crucial to prepare students and practitioners to judge the trustworthiness and helpfulness of published research (Stockhausen & Conrick, 2002, p. 38). The purpose of this report is critiquing a qualitative research article on pressure ulcers.

Pressure Ulcers affects patients the older patients due to the problem of immobility. A pressure

A pressure ulcer is localized in some part of the skin that break down when it stays in a same position because is pressing the skin or rubbing with something for a long time. Pressure ulcers have symptoms but it depends on the category, first category looks redness at the skin and the skin is not yet broken, second starts to look pink, like a blister and break the skin, the third may have some parts badly damaged that look yellowish, and fourth in the ulcers can have dead skin can be dark color that can expand to the bone and requires surgery to move the damaged parts. A patient that suffer pressure ulcer describe the color of the ulcer, how feel around the area and if they have a little bit of pain. Some patients say that ulcer look horrible,

While nurses encounter patients with pressure ulcers in home care and acute care settings, they are mainly a problem with elderly adults in long term care facilities. This is because of decreased sensory perception, decreased activity and mobility, skin moisture from incontinence, poor nutritional intake, and friction and shear (Stotts and Gunningberg, 2007).

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

The patient has suffered a stroke which has affected his mobility therefore this has become troublesome for the daughter as she works various shift patterns and is unable to give her father the level of care the patient requires, with regards to her father’s personal care which is affecting the patients pressure areas. Therefore, the patients pressure ulcer has increased in size and depth. According to Mallah, Nassar and Badr (2014) pressure Ulcers (PUs) are associated with high mortality and morbidity, in addition to being costly to the health care providers. The presence of pressure and shear forces both excess moisture and dryness can exacerbate skin breakdown, making a patient more susceptible to a pressure ulcer (Sibbald, Goodman, Norton, Krasner, & Ayello,

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,

A study conducted over seven years by Amir et al (2011) showed a significant decline of pressure ulcer development after three years of the study. This was partly due to strategies being implemented in regards to repositioning along with adequate nutrition, pressure ulcer prevention information leaflets were given to patients and skin assessments (Amir et al., 2011). It must also be considered that different patients will have different comorbidities and the use of a risk assessment tool is vital to assess and implementing a plan for pressure ulcer prevention according to the patient’s score (Tannen et al., 2010).

An interdisciplinary team of professional staff is a necessity to overcome the issue of pressure ulcer development among patients. Relevant stakeholders would include a nurse, nurse aide, dietitian, and a hospitalist. The primary responsibilities of the nurse consist of completing and documenting skin and risk assessments, monitor progress and/or changes in medical/skin conditions, report patient problems to the hospitalist, and work with the wound team

PUs are considered a common and frustrating problem affecting geriatric patients. Frailty, comorbidities, impaired mobility and cognitive dysfunction are common problems found in the elderly population, predisposing them to the development of these ulcers. PUs usually occurs when a bony prominence is in contact with a surface for prolonged time periods (Buffel, 2015).

Patients get a pressure ulcer for a legion of rationalities. According to Alene Burke of Nursing Assistant Education, some of the elements why people get them which she cited from Nettina, S. (2009), are old age, deficient mobility, lack of moisture, and insufficient diet. Moreover, factors like neurological and other physical problems, friction and shearing, bed and chairs with wrinkled linens or hard objects and pressure ulcers in the past may similarly predispose pressure ulcer. This observations implies that in nursing care pressure ulcers are prospected as negligence, however it is arrogated that pressure ulcers are avoidable on the condition that prime level of care is continuously rendered to patients and residents. (Burke 2010).