Attitudes of Commitment to Pressure Ulcer Prevention among Baccalaureate Nursing Students

Background: Prevention of pressure ulcers (PUP) will reduce patient morbidity and can save costs by avoiding treatment. The formative years in nursing school influence nurses’ valuing and future use of interventions but little is known about the attitudes and experiences of nursing students toward PUP (IOM, 2011).

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to explore how clinical experiences influence the attitudes of baccalaureate nursing students toward their role in PUP.

Design: Qualitative exploratory, descriptive design using purposive sampling.

Methodology: Semi-structured in-depth, open-ended interviews were conducted. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim; data were analyzed via content analysis.

Setting and Subjects:Sixteen undergraduate senior nursing students from a pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing program in an accredited school of nursing (Female=14 (87.5%), age=37.9(9.6) (mean(SD)years) were interviewed.

Results: Four attitudes about PUP emerged from the data: 1) passionate; 2) committed; 3) emerging awareness; and 4) ambivalent. The criteria for the categories included students’ levels of enthusiasm/interest and perceived ability in PUP. Clinical experiences and interactions with preceptors (including WOC nurses) in pediatrics, the operating room, and long-term care facilities were associated with students’ attitudes about PUP. Attitudes about PUP and their influences were formulated into a PUP conceptual model with 4 components: 1) Consequences; 2) Coaching; 3) Cooperation; and 4) Context.

Conclusions: Clinical experiences and preceptors influence nursing student attitudes toward PUP. WOC nurses have a positive impact. Results and the PUP conceptual model that was developed offer guidance to WOC and other nurse preceptors in developing key learning activities to improve student attitudes toward PUP.