Initiating a program to reduce pressure ulcers requires a a thoughtful process. Starting with a key individual who can create and manage the program. A wound care nurse or physical therapist are usually qualified to initiate and manage this type of programs. The following is a compilation of articles that gives useful recommendations for preventing and treating pressure ulcers. Read these articles, then pick and choose what you think is a good fit for your facility. Lay out your course of action and approach your facility management with your plans. Remember an effective wound care program includes an environment were all staff (RN, LPN, CNA, PT, OT) are accountable for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.
1. This article describes how an extended care facility used simple pathways to reduce the amount of pressure ulcers. The extended care facility used “easy-to-use heel assessment forms denoting the characteristics of stage 1 pressure ulcers”. This is a great start for any wound care nurse at an extended care facility.
Frain, R., 2008. Decreasing the incidence of heel pressure ulcers in long-term care by increasing awareness: results of a 1-year program. Ostomy / Wound Management, Volume 54 (2), February 2008, pp 62-67.
This article can be retrieved from: http://www.o-wm.com/article/8339
2. This article gives recommendations for how to improve strategies to assess, document, and prevent pressure ulcers and how to identify key personnel to implement these strategies.
Levine, J., 2009. Optimizing Pressure Ulcer Care: A Checklist for System Change
OWM 2009;55(6)
This article can be retrieved from: http://www.o-wm.com/content/optimizing-pressure-ulcer-care-a-checklist-system-change
Note: you can click this link to find more pressure ulcer resources at the OWM website:
http://www.o-wm.com/search/node/pressure%2Bulcer
3. The next article provides a description of how to use the nursing process for enhancing a facilities pressure ulcer prevention program.
Magnan, M. & Maklebust, J., 2009. The nursing process and pressure ulcer prevention: making the connection. Advances in Skin and Wound Care. 2009; 22:83-92
http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_list.asp?flag=jnl&id=54015
4. The following are minimum competencies and pressure ulcer recommendations for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment from the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) .
NPUAP, 2007. Pressure Ulcer Prevention Points. Retrieved from:
http://www.npuap.org/PU_Prev_Points.pdf
NPUAP, Pressure Ulcer Prevention: A Competency-based Curriculum. Retrieved from:
http://www.npuap.org/PDF/prevcurr.pdf
NPUAP, Pressure Ulcer Treatment: A Competency-based Curriculum. Retrieved from:
http://www.npuap.org/PDF/treatment_curriculum.pdf
5. Sometimes you need corporate support to initiate a facility wide program, so don’t be afraid to get your local wound product representatives involved. A lot of these companies have very well established programs that can give you a head start in pursuing your pressure ulcer prevention programs. Convatec is one company who has a focused pressure ulcers prevention initiative.
Matthew Livingston R.N. C.W.S.