Research Paper Undergraduate 1,375 words

Hospital Turn Teams and Bedsore Prevention: A Nursing Review

~7 min read 5 sections Health · Nursing Interventions

Abstract

This paper examines whether implementing a hospital-wide turn team has a positive impact on reducing pressure ulcers (bedsores) in clinical settings. Drawing on a PICOT-structured review of five peer-reviewed studies identified through PubMed and EBSCO databases, the paper explores the patient populations most at risk, the financial and legal burdens associated with pressure ulcers, and the evidence supporting patient repositioning as the primary preventive intervention. Key findings indicate that repositioning frequency, patient posture, and mattress surface type all influence outcomes. The paper concludes with recommendations for adopting standardized repositioning protocols using unequal time intervals, visco-elastic mattresses, and dedicated turn teams to reduce pressure ulcer incidence.

Key Takeaways

Introduction to Pressure Ulcers: Definition, causes, and scope of pressure ulcers
Problem Statement: At-risk populations, costs, and legal implications
Literature Review: PICOT framework applied to five studies
Findings: Optimal repositioning intervals, postures, and mattresses
Recommendations and Conclusion: Turn team protocols and clinical recommendations

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What makes this paper effective

Uses the PICOT framework (Patient problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) to organize the literature review systematically, giving the argument a clear clinical structure.
Grounds the problem in concrete financial data — citing both Australian and U.S. cost estimates — to establish real-world urgency before moving to clinical recommendations.
Synthesizes five studies into actionable findings, including specific repositioning intervals (two-hourly vs. four-hourly) and optimal patient postures, rather than staying at a general level.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper demonstrates focused database-driven literature review: a keyword search across PubMed and EBSCO yielded 74 papers, which were then narrowed to five through independent analysis. This filtering process shows how researchers move from a broad evidence base to a targeted, answerable clinical question — a core skill in evidence-based nursing practice.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens with a conceptual definition of pressure ulcers and a clear research question, then transitions into a problem statement anchored in cost and liability. The PICOT-framed literature review forms the analytical core, followed by a methodology section that explains how sources were selected. A findings section synthesizes the evidence, and a brief recommendations-and-conclusion section ties everything back to the original research question. The structure mirrors a short clinical research report, making it a useful model for undergraduate nursing writing.

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Essay 1,375 words

Introduction to Pressure Ulcers

A pressure ulcer (PU), commonly known as a bedsore, can be defined as an injury to the underlying tissue of the skin that occurs due to pressure or friction. In most cases, the injured tissue becomes sore due to pressure exerted over a prominent bone. PUs have also been defined as areas of necrosis resulting from tissue compression between a bony prominence and an external surface over a prolonged period of time (Gray & Krapfl, 2008). It is therefore apparent from these definitions that prolonged exposure to pressure is the primary cause of bedsores.

To prevent or minimize bedsores, it is imperative that medical practitioners put intervention measures in place that will reduce exposure to pressure. The human sensory system is naturally equipped with prompts that enable individuals to reposition themselves automatically from time to time in order to avoid tissue damage. However, immobile patients — and even otherwise healthy individuals confined to bed — are prone to PUs. These circumstances require the intervention of medical practitioners, who can employ a number of preventative measures such as pressure redistribution, alleviation of contributing factors (including moisture and poor nutrition), patient education, reduction of friction, and risk assessment. Frequent patient repositioning, however, has been widely accepted as the most effective method of preventing PUs (Gray & Krapfl, 2008).

To determine how effective repositioning is for patients, this paper seeks to answer the question: does the implementation of a hospital-wide turn team have a positive impact on the reduction of bedsores? A review of five research papers was undertaken to address this question and to determine how frequently repositioning should be performed.

4 Sections Hidden · 850 words

Problem Statement190 words

Patients who are immobile and/or unable to feel pain are largely affected by PUs, whether in hospitals or at home. PUs are also more prevalent in areas with prominent bone structures,…

Literature Review340 words

A review of five research papers on the causes and prevention of bedsores, organized using the PICOT framework (Patient problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes), revealed the following.

Findings165 words

Although repositioning was found to be affected by several variables — including the surface upon which the patient is lying (or sitting, for chair-bound patients), posture, and frequency of turning — regular repositioning was found to effectively prevent PUs. Specifically, turning patients every two hours on a standard hospital mattress…

Recommendations and Conclusion155 words

Recommendations based on the findings of this research paper indicate that a hospital-wide turn team will have a positive impact on the reduction of bedsores. A dedicated turn team will be instrumental in ensuring that a…

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References

Gorecki, C., Brown, J. M., & Andrea, N. E. (2009). Impact of pressure ulcers on quality of life in older patients: A systematic review. Journal of American Geriatrics Society. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.

Gray, M., & Krapfl, L. A. (2005). Does regular repositioning prevent pressure ulcers? Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 35(6), 571–577.

Ikechukwu, E. C., Idowu, O. A., & Anekwe, D. E. (2012). Prevalence and factors associated with healing outcomes of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers among patients with spinal cord injury. Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, 4(2), 44–47.

Kaitani, T., Tokunaga, K., Matsui, N., & Sananda, H. (2010). Risk factors related to the development of pressure ulcers in the critical care setting. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19, 414–421.

Krapfl, L. A., & Gray, M. (2008). Does regular repositioning prevent pressure ulcers? Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 35(6), 571–577.

Moore, Z., & Cowman, S. (2010). Systematic review of repositioning for the treatment of pressure ulcers. EWMA Journal, 10(1).

Sharp, C., Burr, G., Broadbent, M., Cummins, M., Casey, H., & Merriman, A. (2000). Pressure ulcer prevention and care: A survey of current practice. Journal of Quality in Clinical Practice, 20, 150–157.

Soban, L. M., Hempel, S., & Munjas, B. A. (2011). Preventing pressure ulcers in hospitals: A systematic review of nurse-focused quality improvement interventions. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 37(6).

Vanderwee, K., Grypdonck, M. H. F., De Bacquer, D., & Defloor, T. (2007). Effectiveness of turning with unequal time intervals on the incidence of pressure ulcer lesions. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 57(1), 59–68.

Key Concepts in This Paper

Pressure Ulcers Turn Team Repositioning PICOT Framework Visco-Elastic Mattress Patient Safety Wound Prevention Immobility Risk Quality Improvement Evidence-Based Nursing