Running head: PROTOCOLS FOR REDUCING PRESSURE INJURIES 1
PROTOCOLS FOR REDUCING PRESSURE INJURIES 2
Nursing
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Nursing Care Plan
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The health care system has made tremendous therapeutic and scientific advances over the past few years. Contemporary nurses are trained for the sickest of patients and the most sophisticated procedures. But there’s one thing that hasn’t changed. That is simple bedside care, which can prove incredibly tricky in light of growing medical acuity and human resources shortages (Coyer et al., 2015). Lack of proper bed care causes pressure injuries or ulcers. Herein is a discussion of evidence-based protocols that nurses can use to reduce pressure ulcers.
The use of weight redistribution mattresses tends to keep all elderly patients under minimal pressure. This mattress standardizes weight equally and reduces impacts on areas that can quickly develop pressure injuries (Spruce, 2017). Mostly, these mattresses are used to relieve pressure on the bony prominences. If the patient has a current phase III or IV pressure ulcer, the procedure instructs the nurse to order a low-air loss mattress.
Reducing the patients’ mechanical load. Mechanical load control is among the most effective prevention steps. When patients cannot change sleeping posture or reposition themselves correctly, it can lead to the buildup of pressure ulcers (Spruce, 2017). This means that patients are turned continuously and moved to reduce pressure on one part of the body.
Repositioning the patient after every two hours duration. This is the standard of care for preventing injuries’ development (Chaboyer et al., 2015). It’s essential to ensure that pressure is not exerted on one side of the body. The most hospital has installed systems that ring after every two hours to remind nurses to turn patients. The methods are, however, not very practical for patients in intensive care units.
Reduce moisture around the pressured areas like the back. Moisture on the skin increases the risk of developing bedsores. Likewise, dehydrated skin may develop injuries by breaking down when subjected to pressure for long (Coyer et al., 2015). Nurses should ensure wetness is reduced on the bedridden patients. Once they defecate or urinate, they should be wiped and clothed with clean diapers.
Finally, if the above measurements are followed, the expected outcomes include; decreases cases of patients developing pressure injuries in hospitals. Also, patient care quality is improved, and it enhances satisfaction (Spruce, 2017). Lastly, further complications that can be caused by bed injuries are limited.
References
Chaboyer, W., Bucknall, T., Webster, J., McInnes, E., Banks, M., Wallis, M., … & Cullum, N. (2015). INTroducing A Care bundle To prevent pressure injury (INTACT) in at-risk patients: a protocol for a cluster randomised trial. International journal of nursing studies, 52(11), 1659-1668.
Coyer, F., Gardner, A., Doubrovsky, A., Cole, R., Ryan, F. M., Allen, C., & McNamara, G. (2015). Reducing pressure injuries in critically ill patients by using a patient skin integrity care bundle (InSPiRE). American Journal of Critical Care, 24(3), 199-209.
Spruce, L. (2017). Back to basics: preventing perioperative pressure injuries. Aorn Journal, 105(1), 92-99.