Pressure Ulcers Essay Example

Florida had the highest population count.

Miami Dade County has a median resident age of 38.8 years, while the median age for Florida as a whole is 41 years. The total population of Miami Dade County is 2,496,435.

Two-thirds of pressure ulcers in this county occur in patients aged over 70. Pressure ulcers resulting from traumatic spinal cord injuries slightly increase the prevalence and affect approximately 200 out of every 100,000 hospital inpatients.

It is estimated that pressure ulcers are present in 3-10% of hospitalized individuals at any given time. The frequency of pressure ulcers among young patients with neurological impairments is lower compared to those developed due to pressure among the elderly.

The occurrence rate of pressure ulcers in hospitals can range from 7% to over 20%. These ulcers are not limited to a specific patient group, but are commonly seen in individuals at high risk such as older adults, obese individuals, malnourished patients or those with continence issues. They are also more prevalent among people with certain skin types and specific underlying conditions. The increasing prevalence of pressure ulcers leads to higher rates of illness and death. Furthermore, these ulcers have a significant impact on healthcare expenses in nursing homes. However, many of these cases could be prevented.

The occurrence of pressure ulcers is estimated to be around 4-10% in Miami hospitals, with even higher rates in the United States. It is difficult to determine how common they are in the community, but it is believed that about 20% of people living in nursing and residential homes may develop them. Additionally, as many as 30% of the overall population may be affected.

Impair Skin integrity

This nursing diagnosis could be associated with altered sensation, circulation, urinary retention, physical manipulation, or injury. It may be manifested by numbness, pressure in the affected or surrounding areas, and disruptions of the skin surface.

In addition, this nursing diagnosis can be seen through the destruction of skin layers and the surrounding tissue. The desired outcomes include the patient expressing relief from discomfort, demonstrating techniques for preventing skin breakdown and tools used for healing, and achieving a timely healing process. The short term goals, interventions, and rationale involve ensuring that the patient does not experience any further skin breakdown while at the facility. This will be accomplished by repositioning the patient every two hours to minimize pressure and shearing force on the skin.

In order to prevent infections, it is important to maintain the skin's cleanliness and dryness. Keeping an eye on any changes in the skin's color or texture can help detect potential issues. The main objective is to preserve the patient's skin health by preventing deterioration or major impairments. Measures to achieve this include repositioning the patient every two hours, ensuring cleanliness, and avoiding pressure and moisture in affected areas. It is also crucial to periodically assess and monitor the skin for any alterations in color or visible discharge.

The patient's long term goals, interventions, and rationale include verbalizing measures to promote good skin integrity before discharge. To achieve this, the nurse will educate the patient about the significance of maintaining a proper diet, consuming enough liquids, and managing food intake. The evaluation of long term goals

will involve ensuring the patient is oriented and cooperative, providing teaching to promote good skin integrity, and assessing the patient's ability to verbalize their understanding of the teachings. If the patient is oriented and cooperative, the nurse will teach them the appropriate interventions to prevent skin breakdown and promote good skin integrity.

Nursing professionals have a vital role in patient assessment, as they identify factors contributing to pressure ulcer development. These factors include patient vulnerability, environmental conditions, risk factors, and medical condition. Individuals with chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, or immunodeficiency syndromes generally experience slower wound healing than healthier individuals. Thus, support from medical personnel is crucial for promoting a prompt recovery process.

To address or prevent pressure ulcers, it is crucial to create and implement a nursing care plan. The recommendations for each patient depend on their medical condition and the type of pressure ulcer they have. Evaluating wounds involves assessing factors like location, size, drainage, odor, and signs of infection. Treatment decisions are made by the patient's physician during consultations. Successful healing requires effective communication between nurses and physicians.

It is essential to actively involve patients and their families in the healing process to prevent pressure ulcers and ensure proper wound care until complete healing. To effectively reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers, a coordinated multidisciplinary approach is required. The community can access different resources that aid in preventing and identifying patients at risk for pressure ulcers. Hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies offer continuous medical education for nursing staff through their education departments.

Patients are provided with teaching material upon discharge from the hospital in order to receive

directions and prevent the development of future ulcers. Additionally, patients and their family members have access to information via various computerized websites.

Conclusion

The role of community nurses includes assessing and treating pressure ulcers in patients who are at risk. This helps to prevent tissue injury and promote wound healing. Community nurses need to have the necessary knowledge and skills to identify potential pressure ulcer development and employ effective strategies and tools to prevent negative outcomes.

After evaluating and assessing, the implementation of a care plan by community nurses helps increase knowledge within the community and provides access to new resources.