When Aydin et al. carefully examine the causes contributing to pressure ulcers, it is clear that nursing workload and other related concerns are among the factors accelerating their development among varied patients. Furthermore, in a therapeutic context, health practitioners' expertise and knowledge might result in pressure ulcers. Regardless of these findings, additional in-depth research should be conducted to validate the reality underlying these statements. Brown, J. (2016). The role of dressings in the prevention of pressure ulcers. British Journal Of Nursing, 25(15), S6-S12.
Brown assesses the significance of putting on preventive dressings and further how they assist in lowering cases of pressure ulcers. He lays emphasis on the article by a tissue viability nurse. In the article, the author evaluates the impact of dressings when it comes to developing pressure ulcers. Moreover, the case studies and peer-reviewed articles used in the study show the extent to which dressings help in alleviating pressure ulcers. The only limitation surrounding the use of dressings and how effectively they help in preventing these pressure ulcers is because the case studies base their arguments on weak findings. Important to note is that regulating humidity as well as preventing shear lowers the chances of adverse effects on the patient’s skin.
Heywood, N., Arrowsmith, M., & Poppleston, A. (2015). Using rapid spread methodology to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Wounds UK, 11(2), 42-50.
Heywood, Arrowsmith, and Poppleston discuss the most enhanced ways of lowering the incidence of pressure ulcers among patients within a span of three months. The individuals proposing the improved process emphasized on the need to implement the required procedure throughout the organization in the same period. Moreover, close teamwork from the various groups would ensure that the process yields the desired results. On the other hand, the primary objective of introducing these improved ways was to come up with a solution to preventing pressure ulcers in a short time span. Despite setting the target period for reducing pressure ulcers at three months, the teams managed to attain a record time slightly longer. The results proved the new ways were a success and therefore translating to improved patient satisfaction generated by relatively lower costs.
Mallah, Z., Nassar, N., & Kurdahi Badr, L. (2015). The effectiveness of a pressure ulcer intervention program on the prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers: controlled before and after study. Applied Nursing Research, 28(2), 106-113.
The study conducted in this article assesses the pre and post interventions made in a move to prevent pressure ulcers. The sample size used for the study involved 186 patients. The primary objective of the study was to ascertain the best way to reduce pressure ulcers by utilizing new protocols. Training among nurses by more experienced practitioners (three years' experience) ensured they had better skills than those possessed by a mere bedside nurse. Hence, the results showed that a prevention program is critical in lowering the cases of skin breakdown in patients caused by pressure ulcers. However, there is a need for further research given the limitation that using the intervention program might yield varying outcomes.
Rajpaul, K., & Acton, C. (2016). Using heel protectors for the prevention of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. British Journal Of Nursing, 25(6), S18-S26.
In this journal, the authors evaluate the pressure ulcers occurrences and the extent to which heel protectors could reduce such cases. Moreover, with the help of a retrospective analysis, the study took place in two separate hospitals. The time span for the study was one year, and it entailed comparing how the use of heel protectors lowered cases of skin breakdown stemming from pressure ulcers. The study revealed that there is a close link between the severity of pressure ulcers and the period of introducing heel protectors to the patients. Hence, the outcome reveals that the use of heel protectors is an effective way of preventing pressure ulcers.
Rich, S., Margolis, D., Shardell, M., Hawkes, W., Miller, R., Amr, S., & Baumgarten, M. (2011). Frequent manual repositioning and incidence of pressure ulcers among bed-bound elderly hip fracture patients. Wound Repair & Regeneration, 19(1), 10-18. doi:10.1111/j.1524-475X.2010.00644.x
The journal article evaluates the frequent impact repositioning has on patients suffering from the bed-bound hip fracture. For this reason, the study conducted entailed collecting information from nine different facilities in a span of three years. Moreover, the information collected was by age, skin integrity, race, and incontinence during the period of hospitalization. Despite the fact that the findings take into consideration the frequent impact repositioning has on patients with hip fracture problem, the method does not conclusively translate to an effective way of preventing pressure ulcers. The standard number of repositions currently suggested by the study is after every 120 minutes. However, taking the longer time before repositioning is not advisable as it would mean the intervention is ineffective.
Rich, S. E., Shardell, M., Hawkes, W. G., Margolis, D. J., Amr, S., Miller, R., & Baumgarten, M. (2011). Pressure-redistributing support surface use and pressure ulcer incidence in elderly hip fracture patients. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 59(6),
In the article, the sample size selected for the study was 658 patients who had in the past undergone surgeries following hip fracture problems and aged more than 65 years. The primary goal of the study was to ascertain the extent pressure-redistributing support surfaces assisted in preventing the occurrence of pressure ulcers. There were weak findings as it was not clear how PRSS prevented hip fractures which are common among patients suffering from pressure ulcers. For bed-bound patients, PRSS had a little impact when it came to reducing the chances of developing pressure ulcers. For this reason, the study revealed that higher costs and the heavy load on nurses were not a guarantee that cases of pressure ulcers would fall gradually, mainly, for post-operative hip fracture cases.
Swafford, K. (2016). Use of a comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers in an intensive care unit. American Journal Of Critical Care, 25(2), 152-155. doi:10.4037/ajcc2016963
In this journal article, Swafford examines how effective long-term pressure ulcer intervention programs aimed at lowering development of this problem in patients reduce the probability of incidence by 0.5. The study proposes using Braden score together with other effective ways such as skin products. For skin care products, the main focus was on repositioning and dressings. Another area of concern was staff training to better handle patients with pressure ulcers. Results showed that proper staff training and following the skin care protocols to the latter is an effective way of preventing pressure ulcers.
Taylor, C. (2016). Nutrition and pressure ulcers: putting evidence into practice. Journal Of Community Nursing, 30(4), 38-44.
Taylor examines whether nutrition can assist in preventing the incidence of pressure ulcers. The author is a dietician who specializes in coordinating researches. For this reason, he examines whether the current protocols have an influence when it comes to the development of pressure ulcers. The primary objective of the study is to identify the individuals who are at risk and how hydration could serve as a means of healing pressure ulcers. There is little proof that certain nutritional elements can effectively prevent pressure ulcers in patients. However, screening of patients for nutritional deficiencies is advisable and future studies ought to focus on this factor.
Tashman, N. (2016). Improving hospital-acquired pressure ulcer prevention on an orthopedic unit. MEDSURG Nursing, 4-7.
In this journal article, Tashman takes an in-depth look at the requirements an orthopedic unit needs to consider to prevent pressure ulcers among patients effectively. The main challenge presented by pressure ulcers to these facilities is the problem encountered in trying to offer treatment to the affected patients. Particularly, the study examines the intervention undertaken by an orthopedic unit housing 64 patients aiming to lower the incidence of HAPUs. The initial study conducted was in 2012, and the sample size was 25 HAPUs. Upon finding the cause for the HAPUs, the team went ahead to ascertain the best way to prevent pressure ulcers. For this reason, they established that a nursing-driven intervention was effective in reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers.
References
Aydin, C., Donaldson, N., Stotts, N. A., Fridman, M., & Brown, D. S. (2015). Modeling hospital-acquired pressure ulcer prevalence on medical-surgical units: nurse workload, expertise, and clinical processes of care. Health Services Research, 50(2), 351-373. doi:10.1111/1475-6773.12244
Brown, J. (2016). The role of dressings in the prevention of pressure ulcers. British Journal Of Nursing, 25(15), S6-S12.
Heywood, N., Arrowsmith, M., & Poppleston, A. (2015). Using rapid spread methodology to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Wounds UK, 11(2), 42-50.
Mallah, Z., Nassar, N., & Kurdahi Badr, L. (2015). The effectiveness of a pressure ulcer intervention program on the prevalence of hospital acquired pressure ulcers: controlled before and after study. Applied Nursing Research, 28(2), 106-113.
Rajpaul, K., & Acton, C. (2016). Using heel protectors for the prevention of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. British Journal Of Nursing, 25(6), S18-S26.
Rich, S., Margolis, D., Shardell, M., Hawkes, W., Miller, R., Amr, S., & Baumgarten, M. (2011). Frequent manual repositioning and incidence of pressure ulcers among bed-bound elderly hip fracture patients. Wound Repair & Regeneration, 19(1), 10-18. doi:10.1111/j.1524-475X.2010.00644.x
Rich, S. E., Shardell, M., Hawkes, W. G., Margolis, D. J., Amr, S., Miller, R., & Baumgarten, M. (2011). Pressure-redistributing support surface use and pressure ulcer incidence in elderly hip fracture patients. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 59(6),
Swafford, K. (2016). Use of a comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers in an intensive care unit. American Journal Of Critical Care, 25(2), 152-155. doi:10.4037/ajcc2016963
Taylor, C. (2016). Nutrition and pressure ulcers: putting evidence into practice. Journal Of Community Nursing, 30(4),
38-44.
Tashman, N. (2016). Improving hospital-acquired pressure ulcer prevention on an orthopedic unit. MEDSURG Nursing, 4-7.
