Evidenced Based Skin Product Useage Decreases Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers

Skin Care to include cleansing and moisturizing has been in clinical practice guidelines for prevention of pressure ulcers for more than a decade.  Skin care products in this facility were small containers of body wash, gel, lotions and bath oil provided by the volunteers.  May 2010 the hospital acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) rate was 6%. The purpose is to decrease HAPU through improved skin care with use of appropriate products. Objective:  To obtain evidenced based skin care products to improve skin care of patients and decrease hospital acquired pressure ulcers.  A summary of the process: A literature search related to the ingredients in skin care products, best practice guidelines for skin care and pressure ulcer prevention revealed certain points:  

•  Ph balanced skin cleanser needed    
•  Moisturizing skin, protectant properties of dimethicone    
•  Use of zinc as a protectant barrier                                                                                                                               Products were chosen and made available to nursing staff:    1. Met with logistics and presented above findings along with rates/percentages of HAPU.   2. Obtained products and placed on every unit in supply rooms   3. Made product posters using Steps 1,2,3 for ease of identification and to begin to reinforce Steps of pressure ulcer prevention    4. SRN (Skin resource nurse) training to products and literature search findings presented through “topic of choice” evidenced based power point training July 2010    5.  Staff education to all units, all shifts, and all days of week was provided by NP and company representative.    Outcomes:  Evidenced based skin care products were made available to nursing staff. Educated staff used the 1,2,3 steps for patient skin care. HAPU rate decreased by 50% in 2 months (August 2010 3%) HAPU rates continued to decrease November 2010 1.4% and April 2011 0.7%