Treatment and Prevention of Pressure Ulcer - Dissertation Example

First, pressure ulcers (PRUs) are rather common medical conditions that have affected patients for ages with ever-increasing morbidity and mortality rates. For these reasons, pressure ulcers and their effects have prompted nurses to work tirelessly to address their detection, prevention, treatment and management (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2013). Most importantly, PRUs have metamorphosed into national healthcare issues underscoring the importance of its prevention to nursing.

The other reason this topic was chosen for this paper is that despite the tremendous efforts and strides made in other fields such as medicine, nursing care, surgery, and self-care education, pressure ulcers remain among the chief causes of morbidity and mortality for different types of illnesses (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2013). The situation is particularly dire for people with prolonged immobility, weakened sensation and advanced age. This topic was also favoured by the need to apply and effectively prevent and manage PRUs and the need for more research in the area of pressure ulcers with regards to their prevention, characterization and treatment.

Unfortunately, more needs to be done with regards to caring for patients to prevent and treat pressure ulcers in hospitals. To this effect, the numerous guidelines available to professionals should be accessed and implemented. Generally, these guidelines pinpoint the various strategies for preventing and treating pressure ulcers. Among these areas are those of skincare and protection, positioning, use of pressure-relieving devices and nutrition (National Guideline Clearinghouse, 2006). Agreeably, keeping the skin clean, dry and moisturized is the first and an important preventive step.

Other guidelines emphasise the avoidance of the massaging of bony prominences. Dry lubricants and/or other protective dressings such as transparent films and hydrocolloids are also recommended for use since they help avoid skin injury from friction during patient transferring and turning (National Guideline Clearinghouse, 2006). In addition, the use of skin protectants or incontinence skin barriers is recommended by experts (Allsop, 1995). Another skin-related intervention that comes highly recommended is the use of absorbent underpads and undergarments to wick moisture away from the skin.

The recommendations with regards to positioning and pressure-relieving devices include elevation of the head of the bed to about 30 degrees, the use of a 30-degree lateral lying position, use of trapeze bars to help with mobility, use of pillows or wedges to lessen pressure and the cushioning of high-risk areas such as the elbows, heels and sacrum (McInnes & Cullum, 2011). Others have emphasised the need to avoid dragging or pulling patients and the use of lift sheets/equipment to reposition or transfer patients.

According to the NICE, 2013, about half a million UK citizens develop at least one pressure ulcer yearly while the NHS reports that about one in twenty people admitted to hospitals with a sudden illness will develop a pressure ulcer. According to most media reports, pressure ulcers not only inflict severe harm to patients but also cost the NHS billions of pounds each year to treat (Manfred, 2005). Nevertheless, the majority of pressure ulcer cases could be prevented via rather simple measures. The media has been particularly consistent in urging NHS organisations in the UK to work towards the prevention of pressure ulcers. According to media agencies, the solutions are quite simple and include, those contained in most guidelines such as observing patients’ skin and the regular changing of patients’ positions (Allyson, 2004).