Abstract (300 words maximum)
Pressure Ulcer Prevention in the Post- Anesthesia Care Unit
Abstract
Keywords- PACU, post-anesthesia care unit, pressure ulcers, hospital acquired, skin breakdown
Background: Post-operative patients are often in the PACU for longer periods because of short staffing and awaiting room assignments. Due to the patients laying in one position for longer periods of time without ambulating or positioning, this increases their risk for skin breakdown and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. The purpose of this project is to implement a pressure ulcer care package to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired pressure ulcer development for post-operative patients. This will decrease the patient’s recovery time, reduce hospital length of stay, and decrease the risk of developing more serious patient complications.
Brief Literature Review: Risk factors, such as obesity and diabetes increase the risk for a surgical patient to develop a pressure ulcer (Nilsson, 2013). On top of that, patients are often laying in one position for longer periods of time in the PACU. This leads to further health complications and longer recovery times. On the other hand, treating hospital-acquired pressure is costly and ranges from 3.3 to 11 billion annually (Padula & Delarmente, 2019). Also, with the PACU being known as a transient unit, emphasis and education on more thorough skin assessments are not being done.
Method: A pressure ulcer care package will be presented to the nurses at the PACU. The pressure ulcer care package will include repositioning protocol every 2 hours, skin assessments with use of Braden Scale every 2 hours, and use of pressure ulcer cushions and dressings at bony prominences. After presenting the package to all the nurses, the package will be applied to all PACU patients.
Evaluation: In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the pressure ulcer care package in the PACU, the number of times the nurses implemented and documented the pressure ulcer care package will be assessed. Additionally, early identification of skin breakdown will be assessed pre and post implementation through chart reviews of Epic documentation.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Nurse 4417: Advanced Clinical Practicum
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Christine Emerson
Pressure Ulcer Prevention in the Post- Anesthesia Care Unit
Pressure Ulcer Prevention in the Post- Anesthesia Care Unit
Abstract
Keywords- PACU, post-anesthesia care unit, pressure ulcers, hospital acquired, skin breakdown
Background: Post-operative patients are often in the PACU for longer periods because of short staffing and awaiting room assignments. Due to the patients laying in one position for longer periods of time without ambulating or positioning, this increases their risk for skin breakdown and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. The purpose of this project is to implement a pressure ulcer care package to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired pressure ulcer development for post-operative patients. This will decrease the patient’s recovery time, reduce hospital length of stay, and decrease the risk of developing more serious patient complications.
Brief Literature Review: Risk factors, such as obesity and diabetes increase the risk for a surgical patient to develop a pressure ulcer (Nilsson, 2013). On top of that, patients are often laying in one position for longer periods of time in the PACU. This leads to further health complications and longer recovery times. On the other hand, treating hospital-acquired pressure is costly and ranges from 3.3 to 11 billion annually (Padula & Delarmente, 2019). Also, with the PACU being known as a transient unit, emphasis and education on more thorough skin assessments are not being done.
Method: A pressure ulcer care package will be presented to the nurses at the PACU. The pressure ulcer care package will include repositioning protocol every 2 hours, skin assessments with use of Braden Scale every 2 hours, and use of pressure ulcer cushions and dressings at bony prominences. After presenting the package to all the nurses, the package will be applied to all PACU patients.
Evaluation: In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the pressure ulcer care package in the PACU, the number of times the nurses implemented and documented the pressure ulcer care package will be assessed. Additionally, early identification of skin breakdown will be assessed pre and post implementation through chart reviews of Epic documentation.