Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcer Prevention

• Main Author: Jones, Druscilla Willis
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: ScholarWorks 2019
• Subjects: Braden Scale; Evidence-Based Practice; Guidelines; Knowledge; Pressure Ulcers; Treatment and Prevention; Nursing
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7670; https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8942&context=dissertations

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) represent a significant challenge in the care provided for hospitalized patients. HAPUs impact morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. At the local practice site, the incidence of HAPUs increased in the perioperative setting. The practice-focused question for this project asked if an education program for staff nurses working in a perioperative care setting with high HAPU incidence can advance nurse knowledge regarding prevention, early assessment, symptoms, and treatment of HAPUs. The purpose of this educational project was to develop a pretest and posttest designed education program on HAPU prevention and care for perioperative nurses. The Iowa model was used to guide content development with application of the content to nursing practice, and Watson’s theory of caring was used to align with the organizational core values. Information on the prevention and treatment of HAPUs was obtained from national and international guidelines. A presentation was developed to address the practice guidelines for assessment, prevention, and treatment of HAPUs. A standardized pretest from NetCE was given to 15 nurses and 5 medical assistants prior to the education program and again after the education program. NetCE score results indicated improvement in nursing staff members’ knowledge from 65 on the pretest to 100 on the posttest; medical assistants’ scores increased from 35 to 65. For patients who undergo surgical procedures, the results of this project may improve assessment, prevention, and treatment of HAPUs and thereby promote positive social change because patients have a reduced risk of HAPUs and HAPU-associated complications.