Pressure Ulcer Prevention Paper

Importance of Reliable Information on Pressure Ulcer Prevention
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NUR500: Foundational Concepts and Applications
Importance of Reliable Information on Pressure Ulcer Prevention
In a technologically based society, such as ours, it is imperative that nurses, “base care decisions on best practice evidence from peer-reviewed research literature.” (Miller, Graves, Jones, & Seivert, 2010) Websites can be a great resource, but their credibility must be determined and researched prior to taking the information from that site as valid, accurate and up to date. This paper will discuss how to organize information, and use evidence based research to validate a websites credibility. Specifically, this paper will look
Arndt, & Kelechi found that several factors play into the proper identification and staging of a pressure ulcer (2014). There are many tools that can be used to identify a wound, the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (www.npuap.org) has a reference tool that assists clinicians in the staging process. “The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Pressure (NPUAP) Ulcer Staging System and the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Staging System are widely recognized and readily available as comprehensive systems that classify pressure ulcers.” (Arndt & Kelechi, 2014) Proper staging is not only important for patient treatment and outcomes, but it is also a necessity for financial reimbursement to the
The NPUAP website has the ability to be a good start for clinicians in the battle of the bedsore. Sullivan & Schoells, (2013) further credit the information given by the NPUAP by stating, “guidance provided by such organizations as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, and AHRQ has resulted in successful implementation of bundled evidence-based practices throughout the United States.” It is clear that the information on the NPUAP website is not only valid, but it is based on best practice and is evidence based. Nurses dealing with patients that are susceptible to pressure ulcers are doing themselves and their patients an injustice by not utilizing the tools that the site has to offer. Nurse educators, and wound nurses will find this site especially valuable and would be able to change practices and policies if needed based on the information the site provides. Another nice feature of the site (especially for the busy consumer researching medical information) is the link to Medline and the description it gives of the usefulness of evidence based