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Pressure ulcers are generally defined as "lesions caused by unrelieved pressure, resulting in damage of underlying tissue," (Hart et al. 2006, p. 257). They occur mainly along bony protuberances such as the sacrum, hips, and ankles. Of the four studies, only Vanderwee et al. (2006) draw attention to the differences between observing pressure ulcers at different points on the body. Vanderwee et al. (2006) found that finger pressure and transparent disk methods of observation were both less sensitive at the heels and that the greatest correspondence between methods occurs at the sacrum. None of the other studies distinguished between the two main pressure ulcer observation methods: finger and transparent disk.
All four researchers note that the greatest prevalence of pressure ulcers occurs among geriatric care patients, but Gunningberg (2005) found that intensive care,
... Moreover, all four studies clearly indicate the need for improved nurse training and education in preventing pressure ulcers from occurring. Wipke-Tevis et al. (2004) state that research-backed risk assessment methods like the Braden Scale are "underused" in long-term nursing care facilities (p. 586). Furthermore, some patients in long-term care facilities are assessed more often than necessary whereas others are not monitored enough (Wipke-Tevis et al., 2004).
Summary of Common and Conflicting Findings
Hart, Bergquist, Gajewski & Dunton (2006); Gunningberg (2005); Wipke-Tevis, Williams, Rantz, Popejoy, Madsen, Petroski & Vogelsmeier (2004); and Vanderwee, Grypdonck, DeBacquer & Defloor (2006) all indicate that pressure ulcers are unnecessarily common among patients in nursing care facilities. Pressure ulcers are generally defined as "lesions caused by unrelieved pressure, resulting in damage of underlying tissue," (Hart et al. 2006, p. 257). They occur mainly along bony protuberances such as the sacrum, hips, and ankles. Of the four studies, only Vanderwee et al. (2006) draw attention to the differences between observing pressure ulcers at different points on the body. Vanderwee et al. (2006) found that finger pressure and transparent disk methods of observation were both less sensitive at the heels and that the greatest correspondence between methods occurs at the sacrum. None of the other studies distinguished between the two main pressure ulcer observation methods: finger and transparent disk.
All four researchers note that the greatest prevalence of pressure ulcers occurs among geriatric care patients, but Gunningberg (2005) found that intensive care, acute care, and neurological care patients may also be at an increased risk for developing pressure ulcers. Moreover, all four studies clearly indicate the need for improved nurse training and education in preventing pressure ulcers from occurring. Wipke-Tevis et al. (2004) state that research-backed risk assessment methods like the Braden Scale are "underused" in long-term nursing care facilities (p. 586). Furthermore, some patients in long-term care facilities are assessed more often than necessary whereas others are not monitored enough (Wipke-Tevis et al., 2004).
Evidence-based studies that delineate how to manage and treat pressure ulcers have determined that the most effective approaches include keeping the wound moist, appropriate repositioning, using support surfaces, and proper nutrition. Non-traditional approaches, including electrical stimulation, hyperbaric oxygen, growth factors and skin equivalents, and negative pressure wound therapy, are also showing promising results (Resources for Managing Hospital-Acquired Conditions, 2008). Organizational level activities for dealing with hospital-acquired pressure ulcers include: developing and adhering
Evidence-Based Project Implementation Issues: Pressure Ulcers Evidence-based research as opposed to evidence-based practice is defined as "research [that] is generating new knowledge about a phenomenon or validating existing knowledge…Although evidence-based practice may have opinion -- expert opinion, but opinion still -- woven in, research is built in such a way to avoid bias" ("Evidence-based practice and avoiding confusion," 2014). Experiments must have controlled variables to ensure that extraneous data does not
Hourly Nurse Rounds to Help Reduce Falls, Call Light Use, and Pressure Ulcers The objective of this paper is to carry out the literature review to investigate whether the hourly rounding is able to reduce pressure ulcers, falls, and call light use and contribute to the overall increase in patient satisfactions. The outcomes of the literature review assist in identifying the gaps in the literature. Hicks, (2015) in his study, "Can
Evidence-Based Practice on Hourly Rounding Impact of Hourly Rounding on Falls Preventions, Reduction of Pressure Ulcers and Call Light Use In the contemporary health environment, falls are the common phenomenon that may cause fatal injuries to older adults of 60 years and older. Nearly 50% of hospitalized older adults face the risks of falls that can lead to a fatal or non-fatal injury. Consequently, falls can lead to negative effects that include
Hourly nurse rounds help to reduce falls, pressure ulcers, call light use and contribute to rise in patient satisfaction base on evidence base practice The healthcare center is faced with numerous challenges affecting clinical results and client satisfaction (e.g., ulcers, use of call light and falls). The above challenges have brought on the need to develop and institute an appropriate framework to improve patient care delivery by means of better and
Nursing informatics has been defined as, "a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice" (Shuler, 2011). The systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a conceptual model used in project management that describes the stages involved in the information system development, from a feasibility study to the maintenance of the completed system (Rouse, 2009). With these