The Healthy Skin Project, Research Paper Example

The evidence regarding pressure ulcers is significant and continues to increase in scope for many older adults. It is important to identify some of these characteristics and how nurses have been able to adapt to evidence in order to improve their practices effectively to prevent future pressure ulcers from forming. Topics of importance include the identification of pressure ulcers, the use of new and existing tools to support patient needs, and the overall development of new frameworks to accommodate patients in a timely and efficient manner to prevent or minimize the risk of pressure ulcers and related damage. These considerations must be introduced in order to effectively respond to the challenges of improving quality of life for patients who are at risk of developing pressure ulcers.

Evidence-Based Practice Solutions

The realities of patient care require an examination of the key principles and support systems that impact outcomes for patients and which govern nurses’ decision-making regarding the treatment of pressure ulcers. This process also requires nurses to be mindful of the tools and resources that impact health and the overall development of frameworks to support the overall prevention of pressure ulcers for at-risk patients. Most importantly, it is necessary to engage in new strategies for improvement to accommodate proper skin care and the treatment of pressure ulcers if they are identified. This also reflects a need to further examine the recommendations that have been set forth by the American College of Physicians and other organizations with respect to pressure ulcers in order to effectively respond to changes that may positively impact health and wellbeing for these individuals.

The primary recommendations in place for these patients include the following: 1) Performing a comprehensive risk assessment to determine which patients are most at risk of developing pressure ulcers; 2) Employ the use of mattresses with advanced static materials to prevent pressure ulcers; and 3) Employ the use of alternating-air mattresses of some type of overlay that will support and prevent the formation of pressure ulcers in these patients (Qaseem, Mir, Starkey, & Denberg, 2015). The latter two options are classified as moderate forms of evidence to support the prevention of pressure ulcers and impact how organizations may respond to changing their own practices to have a lasting impact in this regard.

Patients who face the risk of pressure sores must be provided with the tools and resources that are necessary to support their objectives in treating patients who face this risk. Pressure ulcers are typically staged by their degree of severity, based upon prior evidence. For example, Stage I represents the most minimal damage, while Stage IV represents significant loss of tissue with possible bone exposure (Tchanque-Fossuo & Kuzon, 2011). These stages are critical to the success of nurses in supporting care and management plans for patients with pressure ulcers in order to properly identify and stage these conditions effectively and treat them in a timely manner (Tchanque-Fossuo & Kuzon, 2011).

Most importantly, it is necessary to utilize prior evidence in support of the development of new perspectives to accommodate patients and to be proactive in working towards solutions to prevent pressure ulcers in the future. With an average cost of $43,180 to treat a pressure ulcer, it is necessary to minimize this complication and to engage nurses in prior evidence that will impact procedures to treat patients to minimize their risk of pressure ulcers as best as possible (Amour-Burton, Fields, Outlaw, & Deleon, 2013). Furthermore, since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will not provide payment for secondary pressure ulcer diagnoses, it is critical that their prevention is optimized and supported by prior evidence in preventing their formation to begin with (Amour-Burton et.al, 2013). The Healthy Skin Project serves as a primary example of a successful evidence-based program to support pressure ulcer prevention and care for nurses, including the implementation of a part-time Wound Liaison Nurse to identify and stage pressure ulcers and provide education to other nurses to ensure that pressure ulcer knowledge is up-to-date and optimal for prevention purposes (Amour-Burton et.al, 2013). This process will serve future nursing practices well and provide a basis for examining the different needs of a given population who is at risk for pressure ulcer formation. This project also provides evidence that specificity towards wound care is optimal in the care and treatment of patients with a less than desirable health status and who could develop pressure ulcers in the future.

Patients at risk of pressure ulcers must be able to receive proper care and treatment in a timely manner that will support their needs. This requires nurses to identify prior evidence-based practice and solutions to ensure that these patients receive the best possible conditions. The prevention of pressure ulcers must be a critical priority and provide further support to nurses; therefore, they must use prior evidence to engage them in promoting patient safety and optimal care at all levels. It is important to utilize this evidence effectively to ensure nurses and other professionals are able to prevent and/or treat pressure ulcers without further complications. Therefore, a strategy for educating these individuals must be developed that will facilitate effective outcomes.

Conclusion

The prevention of pressure ulcers in patients who are at risk for their formation must be able to manage the different needs and expectations of this process and in ensuring that patient care needs are managed in a timely and effective manner. It is important for nurses to identify prior evidence that will support in this endeavor and in engaging them in learning how to prevent pressure ulcers that will have a positive and meaningful impact on healthcare outcomes for nurses. It is imperative to develop a strategy for nurses to be mindful of the development of protocols to improve the quality of care that this patient population receives and to be successful in supporting their needs without delays or further risk of pressure ulcer formation and subsequent tissue damage.

References

Amour-Burton, T., Fields, W., Outlaw, L., & Deleon, E. (2013). The Healthy Skin project: changing nursing practice to prevent and treat hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Critical Care Nurse, 33(3), 32-39.

Qaseem, A., Mir, T.P., Starkey, M., & Denberg, T.D. (2015). Risk assessment and prevention of pressure ulcers: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 162(5), 359-369.

Tchanque-Fossuo, C.N., & Kuzon Jr., W.M. (2011). An evidence-based approach to pressure sores. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 127(2), 932-939.