Introduction
Pressure ulcers often affect patients who sit in wheelchairs or are confined in beds for prolonged periods of time. Researchers point out that while multiple people can be affected by this issue, it is preventable if the necessary measures are applied to the treatment (Mitchell, 2018). The purpose of implementing a checklist is to prevent and minimize the risks by ensuring a high level of knowledge, skills, and efficiency that medical professionals need to mitigate such conditions.
By following certain guidelines and advancing in the domain of care for patients prone to developing pressure ulcers, nurses are to control the possible negative outcome that correlates with this condition. Moreover, the positive results of the strategy applied in a nursing home setting illustrate that the proposed measures are proficient in mitigating bedsores and further complications linked to them.
Strategies
Several measures are included in the plan of action to mitigate pressure ulcers in the nursing home setting. First, an assessment tool needs to be put in place to examine the current knowledge healthcare providers have in regard to treating pressure injuries. Moreover, in-service training for staff members will contribute to practical and in-detail information that nurses will be able to apply when treating patients.
Another important step is to include an evidence-based checklist that will help the staff practice all the necessary practices towards mitigating and preventing pressure injuries. Last but not least, all the implementations will be assessed in terms of the actual knowledge the staff has as a result of the previous training for treating such injuries. Similarly, there will be an examination of how the staff discusses further care with patients and family members in regards to the assistance provided outside the nursing home setting.
The plan of action has several advantages that benefit patients, healthcare providers, and the institution as a whole. According to researchers, daily activities centered around the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers result in positive long-term effects for people suffering from such conditions (Barrois et al., 2017). Furthermore, since the action plan involves the inclusion of patients and family members, the strategies will lead to the minimization of pressure injuries even after the patient leaves the nursing home. Hence, fewer people will need further medical assistance due to inadequate measures for dealing with bedsores at home. Such beneficial outcomes will be illustrated in the overall risk mitigation and the decrease in cases related to complications from untreated or inefficiently treated pressure injuries.
While there are multiple advantages to the plan of action, there are certain limitations that need to be addressed. First, it is crucial to address the cost of the implementation. Researchers point out that while maintaining tissue integrity is an essential measure, it is more costly compared to other medical procedures (Avşar & Karadağ, 2017). Moreover, due to the relatively dynamic nursing home environment, staff members may meet the new plan with rigidity and inflexibility. It is also essential to mention that medical professionals may find the in-service training time-consuming or correlating with pressure and reduced creativity.
Risks and ethical issues can also occur, which is why it is vital to address them in order for such problems to be mitigated early on. The current knowledge in regards to the prevention of pressure injuries may differ from person to person. According to Lavallée et al. (2018), research shows that certain medical professionals have not shown satisfactory results when assessed based on their knowledge in the field of maintaining tissue integrity. In this case, there are risks that some staff members will be more efficient during the in-service training. In terms of ethical problems, the implementation involves giving recommendations to family members and patients themselves, which can be viewed as intrusive. This is why such factors have to be approached professionally and objectively.
Results
The results show a positive change in the domain of measures applied to maintain tissue integrity and mitigate risks for patients developing skin conditions from being bed/wheelchair-bound. The expected outcomes have been assessed and achieved, which is highlighted through the scoring on the tests given to staff members, questioners, and show-me methods. The compared data showed the knowledge before and after the training examined through practical activities and the tests given to staff members. The results show that pre-test scores illustrated a 60% passing rate among 80% of the participants. The post-test measures show a 90% passing rate among 80% of participants. The percentage of improvement is 20%, which is an excellent number based on the initial aim to increase the number to 80%.
Another expected outcome was successful show-me procedures where participants were putting their knowledge into practice. The results show that most of the participants were successful during this examination and showed an understanding of all the pressure ulcer prevention measures (90%). The primary goal was achieving 80% compliance, which means that the objective was met more efficiently than expected. Moreover, the questioners illustrated a satisfactory result in terms of training satisfaction and improvement in current knowledge. 85% compliance noted in the self-assessment questionnaire was evident in 100 % of participants by the end of the training, which is higher than the initially planned 80%.
The next improvement resulting from the implementation was the communication with the patient and family members regarding preventative measures. The verbal teach-back method showed 100% compliance with the checklist, a number more satisfactory than the planned 80%. Every participant was efficient in providing individuals with the necessary tools to perform preventative actions towards the mitigation of risks correlating with pressure ulcers.
According to researchers, involving families in such procedures effectively minimize risks for future problems related to tissue damage (Schoeps et al., 2016). The overall results are satisfactory, which illustrates that the plan of action was effectively implemented. The strategies were practically applied by most healthcare providers who participated in the training and will continue to use the new risk prevention methods.
Conclusion
Risk prevention in nursing homes and hospitals is the primary concern of medical professionals. According to researchers, pressure ulcers remain a significant public health problem that needs to be considered and mitigated through various strategies aimed at maintaining tissue health (Hernández-Martínez-Esparza et al., 2021). The action plan aimed to minimize such conditions includes a checklist of preventative measures, including in-service training, evaluation through tests, and communication with patients and family members in regard to this issue. The implementations have been practical based on the results of the testing, questioners, and show-me method.
The outcomes show that healthcare providers have more knowledge and skills to deal with bedsores compared to the initial results. Considering the improvements, it is to be expected that pressure ulcers will be avoided in the future through the use of the checklist by nursing home staff members.
References
Avşar, P., & Karadağ, A. (2017). Efficacy and cost-effectiveness analysis of evidence-based nursing interventions to maintain tissue integrity to prevent pressure ulcers and incontinence-associated dermatitis. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 15(1), 54–61. Web.
Barrois, B., Colin, D., & Allaert, F.-A. (2017). Prevalence, characteristics and risk factors of pressure ulcers in public and private hospitals care units and nursing homes in France. Hospital Practice, 46(1), 30–36. Web.
Hernández-Martínez-Esparza, E., Santesmases-Masana, R., Román, E., Abades Porcel, M., Torner Busquet, A., Berenguer Pérez, M., & Verdú-Soriano, J. (2021). Prevalence and characteristics of older people with pressure ulcers and legs ulcers, in nursing homes in Barcelona. Journal of Tissue Viability, 30(1), 108–115. Web.
Lavallée, J. F., Gray, T. A., Dumville, J., & Cullum, N. (2018). Barriers and facilitators to preventing pressure ulcers in nursing home residents: A qualitative analysis informed by the theoretical domains framework. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 82, 79–89. Web.
Mitchell, A. (2018). Adult pressure area care: Preventing pressure ulcers. British Journal of Nursing, 27(18), 1050–1052. Web.
Schoeps, L. N., Tallberg, A.-B., & Gunningberg, L. (2016). Patients’ knowledge of and participation in preventing pressure ulcers- an intervention study. International Wound Journal, 14(2), 344–348. Web.