Pressure Ulcers In The Nursing Profession

Evidence suggests that pressure ulcers greatly increase mortality rates in both hospitals and nursing homes (Thomas, 2001). Patients who develop a pressure ulcer within six weeks of admission to an acute-care facility are three times more likely to die than patients who do not develop pressure ulcers (Thomas, 2001). Moreover, patients who develop a pressure ulcer within three months of admission to a long-term care facility are associated with a 92% mortality rate compared with a 4% mortality rate for patients who do not develop them (Thomas, 2001). This evidence alone shows how significant this problem is to the overall health status of patients. In my personal nursing experience, I have heard many complaints voiced from patients and their family members concerning the development of new pressure ulcers. Patients and family members have expressed dissatisfaction because of the increased stress and prolonged hospital stay often associated with the treatment of pressure ulcers.

Nurses need to realise what they are looking for when performing skin assessments for patients. A study conducted by Thoroddsen et al (2013), found that out of 45 patients that had pressure ulcers only 27 were correctly recorded in the patient’s records.

Pressure ulcer or bedsores as it is called is commonly referred to as very prevalent among high-risk patients, especially those confirm to hospital or long-term care setting. These individuals may be adults, elderly, frail, poorly nourished, and with comorbid illness. The objective of this assignment Is to Provide Awareness to my PICOT question which will be a quantitative research and will be supported by evidence-based research and obtained by systematic review from many database searches.

In 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that they would not be paying for any additional cost incurred for hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (Cooper, 2013). Pressure ulcers continue to be problem for health care organizations, despite their aggressive move to eliminate them in the health care setting. Furthermore, the acute care units pressure ulcers occurrences continues to be one of the most underrated problem that has a major impact on patient outcomes as well as reimbursement of care. Acute care patients are at a higher risk for developing pressure ulcers than other patients within the hospital. Primarily due to the fact that patients are hemodynamically unstable, from the use of vasopressors, the use of life saving devices, population age and other health issues. Health care must continue to place emphasis on the prevention of pressure ulcers in order to reduce co-morbidities and ensuing costs. The aim of this paper is to discuss the cost of pressure ulcers, multiple risk factors associated with the development of pressure ulcers, to show one acute care unit’s current practices to decrease pressure ulcers, look at evidence-based interventions, then to propose a change in current practice to reduce the number of pressure ulcers.

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 Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk is a tool that assesses the risk for ulcers in six zones of the body: sensory perception, skin moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear. Nurses and clinicians in settings such as acute, home, and long-term care places use this tool. There is no set time length to complete one of these assessments. The Braden Scale uses a score system where each item on the chart ranges from one to three or four; one signifying “highly impaired” and three/four signifying “no impairment”. The total amount of the score ranges from 6-23. The lower the score a patient displays, the higher at risk the patient is for developing a pressure ulcer. The cut-off point would be a score of 18 or less. Anything at or below this point means that the patient is at high risk for developing a pressure ulcer. A score of 19 or higher means that the patient is at low risk for developing a pressure ulcer. (Ayello. A. E., 2012)

The prevalence of pressure ulcers in elderly patients is of an epidemic proportion (Bansal, Scott, Stewart, & Cockerell, 2005). The annual cost of treating pressure ulcers in the United States (U.S.) is estimated at more than $20 billion and is increasing (Jones, 2013). Pressure ulcers occur when an injury is caused to the skin and underlying tissue at the pressure points resulting in transient or permanent damage to the underlying tissue (Margolis, 1995). The prevalence is seen in patients who are immobile because of chronic health conditions or lying on hard surfaces for prolonged periods (Pham et al., 2011). A pressure ulcer can be disruptive and disabling to frail elderly patients (Landi, Onder, Russo & Bernabei, 2007). A pressure ulcer can also result in complications, which can lead to mortality (Nigel & Chow, 2002; Gary, Berlowitz & Paul, 2001). Development of pressure ulcers is no longer limited to acute or sub-acute facilities alone. As the population is aging, more elderly are receiving heath care in their homes (Ablaza & Fisher, 1998). As a result, all stages of pressure ulcers are also seen in the homes (Park-Lee & Caffrey, 2009). However, there are limited studies that show the magnitude of the problem when compared to acute, sub-acute, and nursing homes (Asimus & Li, 2011). This project will conduct a retrospective chart review at a community-based primary care provider to determine the prevalence of pressure ulcers among elderly individuals who are

The purpose of this paper is to discuss pressure ulcers (PUs) and their prevention. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP), and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance (PPPIA) define pressure ulcers as a ‘localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear’ (Brown, 2016, p. S6). Pressure ulcers are a healthcare problem that can have detrimental effects on patients’ quality of life and can be regarded as an indicator of poor nursing practice. Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) result in costly settlements

Overview- Pressure ulcers are serious problems surrounding hospital care. They cause the patient considerable pain and interrupt recovery. There is physiological pain associated with serious tissue necrosis as well as psychological trauma that is as a result of altered body image and dependency needs. The problem is quite serious; about 9% of hospital patients and almost one-quarter of all nursing home patients are affected by pressure ulcers, with 60,000 deaths attributed to ulcer-related complications (Balestrino, 2000).

The article “Attitudes of Nurses toward Pressure Ulcer Prevention by Waugh, uses a systematic Literature Review to collect evidence based healthcare information. This article looks at the prevalence and prevention of pressure ulcer (PU) in acute and long term care facilities. According to the study, pressure ulcers are one of the major problem in health care sittings. The author pointed out that Registered Nurses (RN) are more interested in other aspects of patient care, for example treatment of disease, not PU preventions. Lack of routines in prevention undermined successful prevention (Waugh, 2014, p. 353). Hence, Waugh (2014) explains the identification and elimination of barriers such as, lack of time or shortages of staffs, may improve

Pressure ulcers (PUs) usually develop over a bony prominence as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear stress and/or friction. Additional contributing factors include immobilization and malnourishment. Groups known to have a high risk of developing PUs include bedridden patients, wheelchair-bound individuals, frail elderly persons with no or limited mobility, as well as individuals with diabetes, poor nutrition, and chronic blood-flow diseases. Pressure ulcers represent an enormous burden on our health care system and an enormous problem for health care providers. Pressure ulcers result in both an increased length of hospital stay and increased hospital costs. Once developed, PUs represents an acute health condition that

It’s about caring for patients that are at risk for pressure ulcers. It could become a serious problem from septic shock or even cause death so they came up with risk assessment and ways to prevent pressure ulcers. The United States uses Braden scale and Norton scale. Although in the ICU, they usually help the additional risk that goes on within the unit. It won’t stop them from getting pressure sores, but it will help determine if it happened from home or from the ICU. Pressure sores occur can occur anywhere on the body, although majority is on bony prominences from ears, shoulder blades, sacrum, coccyx, and heels. They also can develop ulcers from moisture, friction, shearing, elderly, and nutrient deficiency. According to the article, “Turning the patient every 2 hours and getting the heels off the mattress have minimized getting sores, but 2 hour repositioning regiment is not

Excellent writing Durga! UTI and pressure sore are most common infections during hospital stay.“If he has a bedsore, it’s generally not the fault of the disease, but of the nursing”(Florence nightingale ,1859)Nurses play a major role on prevention of bed sores. Pressure ulcers develop when capillaries impedes blood supply to skin subcutaneous tissue. Pressure ulcer risk assessment tools help to aid in the identification patient who may be at high risk. Braden scale use used in most of the hospitals in US. The score on this scale range from 6-23.Above 18score consider as low risk for pressure ulcer while below 18 should be high risk for pressure

The high occurrences of pressure ulcers in the hospital are the current problem. What are the causes and how to prevent pressure ulcers?Healthy person constantly changes the position throughout the day. Those patients who come to the rehabilitation hospital with diagnosis of stroke or spine injuries are unable to turn themselves in the bed. They are at high risk to develop pressure ulcers. In most cases they are already admitted with pressure ulcers.

Pressure ulcers are localized skin and underlying tissue injuries due to constant pressure, shear or friction against another surface. Constant pressure and irritation blocks blood flow to the tissue and causes