Accurate Pressure Ulcer Staging, Where do we stand today?

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel updated the Pressure Ulcer Stages in 2007. CMS Guidelines came in to effect in the acute care placing more emphasis on Pressure Ulcer Identification in October 2008.

A survey reported in 2005 , 692 readers from 48 states, five Canadian provinces and seven other countries were asked if they could identify the four stages of pressure ulcers in their patients, 70% responded that they could, 5% said no and 26% said sometimes. An article published in 2005 entitled “Quality Wound Management: Linking Staff Education and Wound Care Competency” the author evaluated 515 home care clinicians, 470 were RNs and the remainder were PT’s or LVN.  In this article Clinicians were shown photos of pressure ulcers and asked to stage them, only 28% of them could stage correctly.  The article stated that most identified a Stage III as a Stage II. 

Clinicians are asked to visit www.independentnurseconsultant.com and to participate in a survey.  The results of the survey will be presented at conference.