Prevention Of Impressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers are the result of a deficient patient care in many health care organizations like

In order to facilitate understanding of process data and outcome data, this essay will focus on the context of hospital-acquired pressure injury (PI). PI, also referred to as decubitus ulcers, bed sores or pressure sores, is defined as soft-tissue ischaemic necrosis localised in an area caused by prolonged pressure higher than the capillary pressure with or without skin tear or breach, related to posture over a bony prominence. The aetiology of pressure ulcers include: (1) pressure – weight of the skin against contact area; (2) shearing; (3) friction; (4) moisture; (5) position of the patient; (6)immobility; (7) neurological factors; (7) metabolic and nutritional factors; (9) oedema; and (10) age. PIs affects not only in infirmed older people,

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

A pressure ulcer is a localized injury to the skin usually over bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear. It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of patient admitted to the hospital acquire a pressure ulcer and it result in increased suffering, morbidity and mortality. The policy titled Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Managing Skin integrity provides direction for the nurses to prevent the development of pressure ulcer. It

Pressure ulcers remain a major health problem for many years. However, pressure ulcers have received minimal attention when we talk about patient safety issues. It is no doubt a patient safety issue as it can lead to serious damage such as life-threatening infections (Robyn). On a med/surge unit, individuals may experience long or short hospital stays depending on the situation. For the short stays, the focus of care is often on maximizing regaining activities of daily living and assessment and education regarding pressure ulcers is often minimal or non-existent (RNAO). What we fail to realize is that every patient who is at risk needs to be assessed and educated regarding pressure ulcers and the harm it can cause. During the hospital stay, patients may have limited movement and the pressure ulcers can extend into the muscle, tendon, and bone (RNAO). In many cases, patients do not notice the formation of an ulcer and as it may be in areas that are not as visible such as the coccyx. On a unit where there is short staffing, it is more vital to remember to assess for pressure ulcers and prevent the formation of an ulcer. Often, patients are admitted with the presence of a stage one or two pressure ulcer, whether it was from home or long-term care. In that case, patient education need to take place and teachings should be reinforced regarding the prevention of new pressure ulcers forming. Clients should also receive education regarding how to prevent

Pressure ulcers refer to damage that occurs to the skin of a patient. Pressure, shear and friction are among the known causes (Shahin, Dassen & Halfens, 2009). Pressure ulcers mostly affect the lower part of the body, the elderly and patients with spinal injuries (Shahin et al, 2009). They are expensive to treat, require long periods of time and numerous treatments to heal. As a

Pressure ulcer prevention is a major task of direct care personnel in hospitals around the world. Even with evidenced-based polices currently in place at many facilities, patients still continue to develop pressure ulcers. Patients with pressure ulcers require the care of a multi-disciplinary team, ranging from nursing assistants to nutritionists to wound care physicians. Pressure ulcers are expensive to treat, can lead to infections and other illnesses, and sometimes cost patients their lives. A literature search was conducted of five articles related to pressure ulcer prevention in order to find a solution to implement on a medical-surgical unit at a local hospital. The proposed change was selected using Lewin 's Change Theory. The proposed solution was to train nursing assistants in assisting registered nurses (RNs) with monitoring patients ' skin and providing care to prevent the development of pressure ulcers. The pros and cons of this solution, required resources, costs of implementation, education required, and evaluation of the change were all discussed.

When the pressure, is not frequently relived, the damage is caused and a pressure ulcer occurs. Judy waterlow (1985) introduced the Waterlow Score, whilst working as a clinical nurse, she designed this as a tool for her students to use as a guidance, for a risk assessment tool, to help in maintaining skin integrity. Waterlow (1985) suggests, that as a nurse professional, we can only use this as a guide, we must also use our own judgment, in defining the risks of the patient in our care. The cost implications to treatment of pressure ulcer care is expensive, costing the national healthcare service provider millions, with additional longer stay in hospital, the cost of each pressure ulcer and even reconstructive surgery, also with the additional suffering, of the patient at hand, the importance of minimizing the risks to pressure ulcer prevention, is imperative. Not only to bring, the costs down, but to serve our public, to the best of, our ability, in bringing excellence, in the care provided (Dziedzic, 2014).

Pressure ulcers are a serious problem in the medical world today. They affect millions of people and cost medical facilities billions of dollars annually. In order to help prevent pressure ulcers, it is important to understand how and why they happen, the risk factors involved for patients and what can be done to prevent them. Many studies have been done to assess different techniques for preventing and treating pressure ulcers. In addition to using the best medical products, it has been found that proper education for the nurse and the patient plays an integral role in the prevention and treatment of ulcers. This paper will discuss evidence based practice, the nursing role, and client education in pressure ulcer formation and healing.

The purpose of this paper is to acknowledge pressure ulcers, including what a pressure ulcer is and what it should look like in each stage of progression. Furthermore, it should educate the reader on how a pressure ulcer is formed. After reading this paper you should see the importance of preventing pressure ulcers altogether. Through review of various peer reviewed articles, as well as credible internet sources, information will be gathered to show statistics of pressure ulcers in the elderly as well as the contributing factors of this problem. There are solid ways to prevent elderly patients from getting pressure ulcers.

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

Although pressure ulcers prevention is very cost effective, it positively impact the health status of the patient. It is very important that healthcare providers reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers because it can slow the patients’ recovery, prolong their hospital stay, they can acquire complications or worse die. According to the Institute of Healthcare

A pressure ulcer is an area of skin with unrelieved pressure resulting in ischemia, cell death, and necrotic tissue. The constant external pressure or rubbing that exceeds the arterial capillary pressure (32 mm Hg) and impairs local normal blood flow to tissue for an extended period, results in pressure ulcer (Brunner and Smeltzer, 2013). According to National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, 2014, pressure ulcers are a major burden to the society, as it approaches $11 billion annually, with a cost range from $500 to $70,000 per person pressure ulcer. It is a significant healthcare problem despite much investment in education, training, and prevention equipment. This paper includes two different studies to link cause-effect and prevention of pressure ulcers.

Many family members view the development of pressure ulcer (bedsore) us nurses fault, though it is associated with poor or nonexistent nursing care. The general condition of the patient is never put into consideration as the reason(s) for the development of pressure ulcers. Because of this, preventing pressure ulcers have been nursing priority/concern for many years now.

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).