Pressure Injury Identification And Prevention In Emergency Department

Question: Discuss about the Pressure Injury Identification And Prevention In Emergency Department. Answer: Project topic Pressure injury identification and prevention: Pressure injury are commonly called as pressure sores. Pressure sores are the regions on the skin that get damaged due to constant friction or pressure in emergency departments. Pressure sores develop in persons who lack mobility like the older patients, patients who are confined to chair, also the bed ridden patients in the emergency departments. The other names of the pressure sores are pressure ulcers, bed sores and decubitus ulcers (Cushing and Phillips 2013). The regions of the skin that has bones underneath, like the elbows, heels, back of head, tailbone are the major areas of the patient that get affected in the emergency department. These regions do not receive the adequate amount of blood flow, that is why such regions develop the sores or injuries. There are several ways to identify pressure injuries in an emergency department. The skin that gets affected by pressure shows discoloration usually in blue, purple color, skin loss from the affected area develop a patch of dead cells. Prevention of the pressure injury in an emergency department is the prime motive of my work. Hence, devising a plan includes the identification of the pressure injuries and its effective prevention. The plan in involves everyday skin care, change in diet plans, providing support devices, and changing lying or sitting posture in an emergency department (Ausili et al. 2013). Project idea justification (Mini) Pressure injuries are common in old patients who are either bed ridden or confined to wheel chair in the emergency departments. Such patients or the old people that are affected by the pressure injuries are incapable of taking their own care. That is why knowledge of identifying and prevention of the pressure injuries need to be developed among the nurses so that pressure injuries in the emergency departments can be identified well before they develop (Bogie, Powell and Ho 2012). Pressure injury has certain complication that if left untreated can lead several worsening medical conditions in the emergency departments. Implications like cancer due to squamous cell carcinoma, joint and bone infections, pus collection in the dead cells, inflammation of the tissues, and even sepsis can develop within the patients that are affected by the pressure injuries in emergency departments. According to Bulfone et al. (2012), the patients in the emergency department often experience pressure injuri es because patients lie on the for longer periods without changing sides. Hence, there are chances where they might develop pressure injuries on the elbow and back. Question that may arise The major risk factor that can arise in this project are the malnutrition, obesity, blood circulation disorders, smoking, paralysis and immobilization. Hence, failure to deal with these situation or occurrences in the emergency department can lead to increased incidence of pressure injuries and can be fatal for the patients. References Ausili, E., Paolucci, V., Triarico, S., Maestrini, C., Murolo, D., Focarelli, B. and Rendeli, C.L.A.U.D.I.A., 2013. Treatment of pressure sores in spina bifida patients with calcium alginate and foam dressings.Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci,17(12), pp.1642-7. Bogie, K., Powell, H.L. and Ho, C.H., 2012. New concepts in the prevention of pressure sores.Handb Clin Neurol,109, pp.235-246. Bulfone, G., Marzoli, I., Quattrin, R., Fabbro, C. and Palese, A., 2012. A longitudinal study of the incidence of pressure sores and the associated risks and strategies adopted in Italian operating theatres.Journal of perioperative practice,22(2), pp.50-56. Cushing, C.A. and Phillips, L.G., 2013. Evidence-based medicine: pressure sores.Plastic and reconstructive surgery,132(6), pp.1720-1732.