A pressure ulcer is a dangerous disease that affects the skin and can cause discomfort. Researchers define it as a localized injury to the skin, which occurs due to pressure and immobilization (Pittman et al., 2015). Moreover, medical professionals indicate that it occurs because of pressure from lying or sitting without moving; because of that, the oxygen and nutrient supply is reduced, which creates damage to cells (Moore, & Cowman, 2015). The tissues of the human body function due to receiving the necessary nutrients from the blood. Blood vessels are delivered to every part of the human body. The smallest of them, which are called the capillaries, is especially crucial for the process of nurturing tissues. The movement of fluid through the bloodstream can be slowed down or entirely stopped by squeezing the vessels.
For any bedridden person, soft tissue is compressed along with blood vessels, which results in insufficient blood flow to the tissues. If this condition lasts for more than two hours, then malnutrition occurs, and after that comes necrosis. Unfortunately, this condition is progressive in nature, and bedridden or immobile people are most likely to suffer from it, especially if they are not taken care of (Bhattacharya & Mishra, 2015). Therefore, it can be assumed that a particular group of patients is mostly affected by it, for example, seniors or postsurgical patients. For this reason, any solutions for this problem will be relevant to a setting of a nursing home.
For nursing practice, this issue is significant because patients’ comfort should be a priority for medical staff. Moreover, proper treatment can help to reduce the risk of systemic infection (Boyko et al., 2018). For this reason, health care professionals need to be prepared to discover and use different methods that can help not only treat pressure ulcers but also to prevent them (Sebba Tosta de Souza et al., 2015). Nurses need to take into account several factors about such a disease. For instance, they should be aware of the mechanism behind bedsore formation, which includes knowing places of the formation of pressure sores. They usually occur on the back, sides, and abdomen. This knowledge may assist in creating an effective strategy that can help nurses to provide evidence-based care which can improve treatment outcomes (Hoviattalab et al., 2015). The problem of prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers still remains relevant even nowadays. Despite the large selection of various means that facilitate care, the number of patients with bedsores does not decrease. In addition, the treatment process is often slowed down significantly, which sometimes leads to death.
It would also be practical to note that even people who voluntarily decide to lead a recumbent lifestyle are less likely to get pressure ulcers than sick people. This has to do with the fact that healthy people can move freely. In other words, they can move the weight of their body while sitting, lying, and sleeping. Unlike them, bedridden people and people with disabilities are at a higher risk to get bedsores because they rarely manage to change their body position. Treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers are inextricably linked with a whole range of measures to care for a sick person. Researchers indicate several methods that can assist in healing, for example, electrical stimulation (Qaseem et al., 2015). Other medical professionals recommend applying protective dressings to the skin (Black et al., 2015). However, even with the mandatory fulfillment of all hygiene requirements, bedsores can still appear. It also should be noted that such methods will expand nursing practice as the number of responsibilities will increase.
References
Bhattacharya, S., & Mishra, R. K. (2015). Pressure ulcers: Current understanding and newer modalities of treatment. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, 48(01), 4-16.
Black, J., Alves, P., Brindle, C. T., Dealey, C., Santamaria, N., Call, E., & Clark, M. (2015). Use of wound dressings to enhance prevention of pressure ulcers caused by medical devices. International Wound Journal, 12(3), 322-327.
Boyko, T. V., Longaker, M. T., & Yang, G. P. (2018). Review of the current management of pressure ulcers. Advances in Wound Care, 7(2), 57-67.
Hoviattalab, K., Hashemizadeh, H., D’Cruz, G., Halfens, R. J., & Dassen, T. (2015). Nursing practice in the prevention of pressure ulcers: An observational study of German Hospitals. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24(11-12), 1513-1524.
Moore, Z. E., & Cowman, S. (2015). Repositioning for treating pressure ulcers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1). Web.
Pittman, J., Beeson, T., Kitterman, J., Lancaster, S., & Shelly, A. (2015). Medical device-related hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 42(2), 151-154.
Qaseem, A., Humphrey, L. L., Forciea, M. A., Starkey, M., & Denberg, T. D. (2015). Treatment of pressure ulcers: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 162(5), 370-379.
Sebba Tosta de Souza, D. M., Veiga, D. F., Santos, I. D. D. A. O., Abla, L. E. F., Juliano, Y., & Ferreira, L. M. (2015). Health-related quality of life in elderly patients with pressure ulcers in different care settings. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 42(4), 352-359.