A number of steps must be taken to ensure zero pressure injuries in an acute care setting over a one-month period. First of all, a clear and constant patient assessment must be conducted no later than 8 hours after patient admission to the acute care facility (Hommel & Santy-Tomlinson, 2018). A file including information about the patient’s skin condition, as well as possible future risks, such as casts and catheters, should be created and updated regularly. Furthermore, the skin should be systematically moisturized to avoid flaking and dryness, which is a common cause of pressure injuries (Hommel & Santy-Tomlinson, 2018). As the patients are generally bedbound due to their age and the acute care setting, alternating pressure mattresses should be employed. Patient incontinence should be tracked as human excretions which can lead to pressure injuries and must be cleaned as soon as possible. Moreover, patients should have personalized nutrition plans, ensuring a regular supply of protein, water, and vitamins to maintain skin health (Hommel & Santy-Tomlinson, 2018). Utilizing all of the aforementioned techniques simultaneously and regularly should help prevent most of the significant causes of pressure injuries in an acute care setting.
Furthermore, the implementation of vital prevention methods within acute care settings is essential, leading to positive outcomes. First, fully understanding the direct causes and pathophysiology of pressure injuries will allow nurses to avoid the issue. Second, recognizing risk factors for pressure injury in different types of patients is crucial. Thus, knowing the case’s specifics, including the age category or admission reasons, will enable care professionals to be more cautious, leading to the subsequent elimination of the problem. For example, soft tissue damage often occurs in elderly patients with limited mobility (Hommel & Santy-Tomlinson, 2018). Third, implementing evidence-based care to individuals in danger of getting pressure injury will drastically decrease such instances. Therefore, an educated healthcare specialist should always have an individual approach to special patients, as it significantly reduces the chances of injuries. Lastly, learning the peculiarities of acute care and the potential risks that may lead patients to experience further issues can also be beneficial as it will lessen the chances of pressure injuries. Overall, evidence-based training and practice, with the proficiency of dealing with risks related to patients’ treatment, can benefit the acute care setting by demolishing pressure injuries.
To ensure prevention and reduction in pressure injuries, the medical facility should establish an acute rehabilitation team focusing on implementing the steps identified in the first paragraph and maintaining post-surgical care to limit pressure injuries. The combination of a dedicated rehabilitation team with the practices mentioned above has been shown to increase rehabilitation outcomes (Gour-Provencal et al., 2020). As the patients in the acute setting are older and more prone to pressure injuries, only experienced, highly qualified personnel should be ascribed to the acute rehabilitation team. Furthermore, the most critical medical staff members of the rehabilitation team and beyond are acute care nurses. Executing evidence-based practice while treating patients that are prone to pressure injuries is vital for implementing a change. Thus, advanced practice nurses and clinical nurse specialists should be prepared to challenge the status-quo through constant self-development and education related to pressure injuries. What is more, nurses can evaluate each other’s progress by regularly discussing the issue and sharing knowledge and experiences. Overall, the implementation and evaluation of the change can be done by acute care medical staff through careful training and educational discussions.
References
Gour-Provencal, G., Mac-Thiong, J. M., Feldman, D. E., Bégin, J., & Richard-Denis, A. (2020). Decreasing pressure injuries and acute care length of stay in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 1–9.
Hommel A., & Santy-Tomlinson J. (2018). Pressure injury prevention and wound management. In K. Hertz, & J. Santy-Tomlinson (Eds.), Fragility fracture nursing, perspectives in the nursing management and care for older adults (pp. 85-94). Springer.