Pressure Ulcers and Geriatric Patients

The prevalence of pressure ulcers ranges from 3 to 11 percent in hospitalized elderly patients and from 11 to 35 percent in nursing home patients (Prevention of pressure ulcersà, 1996). For nurses and other caregivers who work with elderly patients, identifying risk for developing pressure ulcers, treating ulcers, and reducing their negative effects is a significant element of comprehensive and holistic care (Bergquist, 2002). By exercising analytic and assessment skills and by taking simple steps to reposition bedridden elderly patients, nurses can provide the kind of care that significantly enhances skin integrity even among patients who are bedridden for lengthy periods of time.

The present study was designed to provide an answer to a key research question: what level of knowledge do nurses possess with respect to preventing and/or treating pressure ulcers among hospitalized geriatric patients? Related issues include determining what nursing knowledge or skill deficits exist in order to improve pressure ulcer care. Finally, the research was designed to examine staff attitudes regarding pressure ulcers at a single New York hospital, New York Hospital of Queens.

The New York Hospital of Queens is a 439-bed voluntary, not-for-profit acute care teaching hospital and trauma center. It employs over 2,300 staff members and has 750 affiliated physicians. Quality health care is provided at the ma

. . .
reported. Risk status for pressure ulcers is also influenced by such variables as nutrition, limited mobility, incontinence, increased age, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and skin abnormalities. Males and Caucasians appear more likely to develop pressure ulcers than other groups (Livesley & Chow, 2002). Extrinsic factors associated with the development of pressure ulcers include pressure, friction, shear stress, and moisture. Of these extrinsic factors, the most important is pressure (Bergstrom, Braden, Kemp, Champagne, & Ruby, 1998). Harrison, Wells, Fisher, and Prince (1996) asserted that given the current trends of higher acuity and an aging population in tertiary settings, an increased risk exists for skin breakdown during hospitalization. Considering the human suffering and the high cost of care and treatment for this condition, prevention, and minimization of skin breakdowns are increasingly important elements of basic nursing care. Ayello and Franz (2003) reported that the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) Education Committee recently finalized a board-approved registered nurse curriculum in which registered nurses will be prepared with the minimum competencies for pressure ulcer prevention. These
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Chronakos Nierman, LPNs RNs, Education Committee, Higa Mich, Perceptions Introduction, Hospital Queens, Strongly Agree, Item Mean, Fisher Prince, Nurse LPN, pressure ulcers, pressure ulcer, skin breakdown, score 1, lpns rns, geriatric patients, chi square, development pressure, elderly patients, braden scale, york hospital queens, development pressure ulcers, prevent skin breakdown, chronakos nierman 2003, shifts body weight,
Approximate Word count = 4358
Approximate Pages = 17 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Pressure Ulcers and Geriatric Patients