It is worth noting that pressure ulcers (PU) are a complex health-related problem that most health care institutions observe in their patients. With the onset of PU, the quality of life of a patient changes dramatically. PU must be formed as a result of pressure or a combination of pressure with other damaging factors such as friction, humidity in the room, and so on (Edsberg et al., 2016). Proper patient care is the basis and key to the successful treatment of PUs; for that reason, it is necessary to employ effective nursing interventions to combat the problem. The purpose of this discussion is to formulate a PICOT statement for the future project on PU.
Problem, Evidence-Based Solution, Intervention, Expected Outcomes
The clinical problem may be concluded to an understanding that, at present, the emergence of PUs in patients is one of the major healthcare problems. The complexity of the issue lies in the fact that pressure ulcers result in discomfort and other comorbid health disorders, which negatively affect the quality of a patient’s life. The patient population not receiving the modernized intervention yet is managed using a standardized approach to care. Current nursing interventions require specialists to reposition patients several times throughout the day (Roberts et al., 2016). Nevertheless, this measure is ineffective since PUs develop not only due to pressure but also due to such external factors as friction and microclimate. Therefore, it is essential to introduce innovative techniques that will combine several approaches to PU management.
The evidence-based solution proposed for the future study will include several measures. In particular, nurses will receive education on effective PU management practices so that they understand how they can address the needs of their patients better (Roberts et al., 2016). In addition, the solution requires the utilization of alternative support surfaces to minimize pressure. Control over the hospital microclimate is another factor that will allow eliminating the possibility of developing PUs. The introduction of the intervention is expected to result in a positive, sizable long-term outcome for patients. It may be assumed that the successful implementation of a modernized approach to patient management will affect the levels of recovery and overall well-being of clients. In terms of the intervention, nurses will be able to reposition patients more effectively and transform the microclimate so that it does not trigger PU development.
Change Process
To implement the change process, not less than a month will be needed. Such timeframe is justified by the fact that nurses will receive education on the modernized approach to handling patients, and some time will be allocated to changing the hospital setting. The results achieved will be compared to the outcomes in patients not receiving the intervention. Patient care will center on interdisciplinary collaboration among specialists for effective transformation of the environment (Smith, Snyder, McMahon, Petersen, & Meddings, 2018). In addition, new standards of care will be employed to address patients’ needs related to PU prevention or management. The agency selected for the study will be a local healthcare facility with an acute care unit serving 121 clients. Importantly, the transformation of the nursing practice will occur through education and alteration of guidelines against PU. The implementation of the approach will result in detailed scrutiny of the triggers that lead to PU emergence and external problems that hinder nurses from employing the necessary preventive procedures.
Concluding Points
Thus, it can be concluded that the future study will attempt to transform the nursing practice as applied to managing patients at risk for developing PUs. The approach will center on educating nurses on effective preventive strategies that imply eliminating pressure and minimizing the impact of the microclimate on a patient. The following PICOT question may be developed based on the discussion:
- In patients identified as high risk for developing PUs (P);
- Implements a PU protocol initiated in an acute care unit (I);
- As compared to patients not receiving the intervention (C);
- Reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired PUs (O);
- On day three of hospitalization (T)?
References
Edsberg, L. E., Black, J. M., Goldberg, M., McNichol, L., Moore, L., & Sieggreen, M. (2016). Revised National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel pressure injury staging system: Revised pressure injury staging system. Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing, 43(6), 585-597.
Roberts, S., McInnes, E., Wallis, M., Bucknall, T., Banks, M., & Chaboyer, W. (2016). Nurses’ perceptions of a pressure ulcer prevention care bundle: A qualitative descriptive study. BMC Nursing, 15(64), 1-10.
Smith, S., Snyder, A., McMahon, L. F., Petersen, L., & Meddings, J. (2018). Success in hospital-acquired pressure ulcer prevention: A tale in two data sets. Health Affairs, 37(11), 1787-1796.