Pressure Ulcer Prevention Research Paper
Preventing Patient Harm with Prevention Education Pressure (open, painful sores) can be an expensive difficult project for the healthcare industry as a whole, that is usually preventable. Patients go through undo suffering, extended stays in the hospital and long treatments that increase the already strained healthcare worldwide. Hospital acquired pressure ulcers stage III and IV are considered preventable harm. It has been calculated that pressures ulcers can cost an upward of “9-11billion dollars and be the cause of some 60,000 deaths annually,” (Braden, n.d.) an unacceptable preventable reality. How can we as a unit put EBP in use to get back on target to decrease the cost and preventable harm for our patients? Here are the facts:
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The use of the Braden scale is a tool that assist with providing standard of care in the assessment of the patient’s ages 8 and above that may be at risk. This scale is complete with 6 subscales: Sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition and friction & shear. Each subscale can be used to target interventions for the patient. The sum of the numbers of each of the six areas will provide the score of risk for the patient. If your patient scores 18 or less they are considered at risk and implementation of the pressure ulcer prevention plan of care must be done, complete with documentation, intervention and outcomes. Listed below is the scoring detailed and a visual of the Braden Risk Assessment Scale currently in use on our …show more content…
Constantly Moist: skin is kept moist almost constantly by perspiration, urine, or wound drainage
2. Very Moist: skin is often but not always moist and linen changes are frequent during the shift.
3. Occasionally Moist: skin is sometimes moist, requiring a change at least once a day.
4. Rarely Moist: skin is usually dry and linen changes are needed when requested or per policy for duration of stay.
Activity
1. Bedfast: confined to the bed, PT & OT are active
2. Chair Fast: severely limited or unable to walk, assistance is needed or w/c bound, PT & OT are active
3. Walks Occasionally: very short duration of ambulation, with or without assistance, of can or walker, spends most time in chair or bed,
4. Walks Frequently: ambulates freely outside of the room at least 2-3 times a day while awake
Bed Mobility
1. Completely Immobile: does not reposition in bed to the slightest degree without assistance
2. Very Limited: will occ., reposition in bed but not of a significant degree, independently
3. Slightly Limited: can assist with turning, but not independently
4. No Limitation: moves freely in bed, changing position, without assistance
The use of the Braden scale is a tool that assist with providing standard of care in the assessment of the patient’s ages 8 and above that may be at risk. This scale is complete with 6 subscales: Sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition and friction & shear. Each subscale can be used to target interventions for the patient. The sum of the numbers of each of the six areas will provide the score of risk for the patient. If your patient scores 18 or less they are considered at risk and implementation of the pressure ulcer prevention plan of care must be done, complete with documentation, intervention and outcomes. Listed below is the scoring detailed and a visual of the Braden Risk Assessment Scale currently in use on our …show more content…
Constantly Moist: skin is kept moist almost constantly by perspiration, urine, or wound drainage
2. Very Moist: skin is often but not always moist and linen changes are frequent during the shift.
3. Occasionally Moist: skin is sometimes moist, requiring a change at least once a day.
4. Rarely Moist: skin is usually dry and linen changes are needed when requested or per policy for duration of stay.
Activity
1. Bedfast: confined to the bed, PT & OT are active
2. Chair Fast: severely limited or unable to walk, assistance is needed or w/c bound, PT & OT are active
3. Walks Occasionally: very short duration of ambulation, with or without assistance, of can or walker, spends most time in chair or bed,
4. Walks Frequently: ambulates freely outside of the room at least 2-3 times a day while awake
Bed Mobility
1. Completely Immobile: does not reposition in bed to the slightest degree without assistance
2. Very Limited: will occ., reposition in bed but not of a significant degree, independently
3. Slightly Limited: can assist with turning, but not independently
4. No Limitation: moves freely in bed, changing position, without assistance