Pressure Ulcer Prevention

Summary Pressure ulcers are common among the elderly. They can occur at any age under such as a person being bedridden. There are preventive measures that can be taken to avoid pressure ulcers. Some pressure ulcers are unavoidable no matter what preventative measures are taken. The fact remains that the majority of pressure ulcers can be avoided if preventative measures are taken. Nurses and other staff members sometimes do not do enough to prevent pressure ulcers. “The vast majority of pressure ulcers are the result of poor nursing care” (Moore, 2012). Preventing pressure ulcers at NHS became a main safety concern. NHS wanted to prevent grade two, three, and four pressure ulcers from happening. First, they had to all start using the same
grading system. Some were using a grading scale of one to seven which caused confusion because all personnel weren’t on the same page. NHS implemented the care bundle SSKIN (surface, skin, keep moving, incontinence, and nutrition) as their new way to emphasis prevention (Moore, 2012).
This prevention method includes having the patient on the correct resting surface, keeping the skin clean and dry, rotating the patient in an appropriate time frame, preventing incontinence if possible, and correct and adequate nutrition (Moore, 2012). NHS started putting patients at risk if they fit the criteria. If a patient is at risk, they use preventative measures along with equipment if available. The goal was to eliminate pressure ulcers making it past grade one. After implementing the new emphasis on preventing pressure ulcers, the number of pressure ulcers dramatically declined as well as the grade the ulcer made it to. Even though the strong emphasis on preventing pressure ulcers was improving matters, not all pressure ulcers are avoidable. If a pressure ulcer is treated accordingly and in a timely manner, it can be prevented. Sometimes, nurses and other staff members miss the indications that a pressure ulcer is forming because they are limited on time. Nonetheless, if it can be caught at a grade one and the appropriate action is taken, it can be prevented from moving up on the grade
scale.
Application
Pressure ulcers are very common in the elderly so I will keep that in mind when caring for an elderly patient during clinicals or any patient at risk. I will first note if they are at risk for developing pressure ulcers. I will continuously asses the skin to check for forming pressure ulcers. I will rotate my patients every two hours or more if necessary. Rather it be a chair or bed, I will make sure it is not causing any harm to their skin. Their skin will need to stay dry and clean. If incontinence is an issue, I will take preventative measures. I will teach them about proper nutrition and monitor their diet so it can be adjusted if need be.