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OBJECTIVES
After viewing this poster, the participant will be able to:
1. Define three pressure ulcer documentation strategies
2. Define four skin integrity assessment recommendations
3. Identify four pressure ulcer risk factors.
PROBLEM: Pressure ulcer prevention and treatment presents a clinical challenge in acute care hospitals. Healthcare providers in our organization required assistance with diagnosing and staging of pressure ulcers. Current practice was to refer pressure ulcer questions and consults to the Wound Specialist NP’s. Orders which should be initiated upon admission were sometimes delayed until after the consultation by the Wound Specialist NP’s.
GOAL: Develop a pocket-sized guide incorporating pressure ulcer staging, prevention and treatment evidence-based guidelines that would serve as a supportive instruction tool for non-wound care specialist health care providers.
PROCESS: A multidisciplinary team consisting of risk management, the director of medicine and the Wound Specialist nurse practitioners designed what was needed for a simple easy-to-understand pocket-sized guide. Plans were put in place to disseminate these cards to all NP’s, PA’s, MD’s working in the institution through a series of in-unit training classes, grand rounds presentations and at various meetings.
Evaluation: The pocket-guide was well received by all healthcare providers and a second printing was done to meet the demand for the cards. There has been an improvement in pressure ulcer documentation and requests for Wound Specialist NP Consults. Per the requests of various department heads, the Pressure Ulcer Pocket Guide will be incorporated into the new interns and residents orientation period.
After viewing this poster, the participant will be able to:
1. Define three pressure ulcer documentation strategies
2. Define four skin integrity assessment recommendations
3. Identify four pressure ulcer risk factors.
PROBLEM: Pressure ulcer prevention and treatment presents a clinical challenge in acute care hospitals. Healthcare providers in our organization required assistance with diagnosing and staging of pressure ulcers. Current practice was to refer pressure ulcer questions and consults to the Wound Specialist NP’s. Orders which should be initiated upon admission were sometimes delayed until after the consultation by the Wound Specialist NP’s.
GOAL: Develop a pocket-sized guide incorporating pressure ulcer staging, prevention and treatment evidence-based guidelines that would serve as a supportive instruction tool for non-wound care specialist health care providers.
PROCESS: A multidisciplinary team consisting of risk management, the director of medicine and the Wound Specialist nurse practitioners designed what was needed for a simple easy-to-understand pocket-sized guide. Plans were put in place to disseminate these cards to all NP’s, PA’s, MD’s working in the institution through a series of in-unit training classes, grand rounds presentations and at various meetings.
Evaluation: The pocket-guide was well received by all healthcare providers and a second printing was done to meet the demand for the cards. There has been an improvement in pressure ulcer documentation and requests for Wound Specialist NP Consults. Per the requests of various department heads, the Pressure Ulcer Pocket Guide will be incorporated into the new interns and residents orientation period.