Running head: CAPSTONE PROJECT PRESSURE INJURIES 1
CAPSTONE PROJECT Pressure Injuries
Kimberly Rister
,CAPSTONE PROJECT PRESSURE INJURIES 2
Capstone Final Project Preventing Pressure Injuries
Background and Problem statement
Pressure injuries pose a significant burden to both patients and health care facilities.
There are an increasing number of studies that have examined the use of prophylactic dressings,
and their ability to redistribute pressure and protect the skin from shear and friction damage
(Cornish L, 2017.) The prevention of pressure injuries has been more effective, rather than
having to treat the injury once it occurs. One of the many interventions that has been successful
in preventing unit acquired pressure injuries on my unit is the use of pink sacral foams and doing
skin checks at every shift change. Pressure ulceration is a significant global healthcare problem
and represents a considerable burden on healthcare resources. With the implementation of skin
checks during shift change, as well as a skin check slip check off to ensure that skin checks were
being completed pressure injuries have decreased significantly on this nurse’s unit.
Purpose of the Change Proposal
As with any pressure injury, prevention is key. By preventing pressure injuries to
patients’ nurses are providing quality care and ensuring that their patients are taken care of. If
that patient was to develop a pressure injury while there, they would not only have to stay longer
but then gain the risk of developing an infection and leads the patient and their family to distrust
the facility and feel that they weren’t given the quality of care that they deserved. Also, in
preventing pressure injuries it is more cost effective as it is more costly to treat the injuries, than
it is to treat them when they do occur as they usually become infected and cause the patient to
stay in the hospital longer.
PICOT
, CAPSTONE PROJECT PRESSURE INJURIES 3
POPULATION: patients on a rehabilitation unit
INTERVENTION: applying sacral foams and ensuring that skin checks are done at shift change
COMPARISON: turning and repositioning
OUTCOME: Decrease the amount of unit acquired pressure injuries on patients during their
hospital stay
TIME: measured weekly for ten weeks
QUESTION: Are patients whose skin is being checked as well as being turned and repositioned
less likely to develop a pressure injury compared to those who are just being turned and
repositioned?
Pressure injuries have been a significant burden to patients and health care workers for
years. In preventing pressure injuries, it not only decreases the stress on the patient, it reduces the
risk of infection, and increases the quality of care that can be provided to the patient. One of the
interventions that has been successful in preventing unit acquired pressure injuries on this
nurse’s unit is the use of pink sacral foams and doing skin checks at every shift change. Pressure
ulceration is a significant global healthcare problem and represents a considerable burden on
healthcare resources. Within the literature an increasing number of studies have examined the
role prophylactic dressings play in redistributing pressure and helping to protect the skin from
the effects of friction and shear (Brown J, 2016) Turning and repositioning patients is one way to
help prevent pressure injuries but applying prophylactic dressings like previously stated helps
protect the skin and the skin checks ensures that the nurses are laying eyes on their patients and
checking their skin. It is a part of every nurse assessment which is required every shift. Pressure
ulcers result in pain and poor quality of life for patients as well as being regarded as an indicator
CAPSTONE PROJECT Pressure Injuries
Kimberly Rister
,CAPSTONE PROJECT PRESSURE INJURIES 2
Capstone Final Project Preventing Pressure Injuries
Background and Problem statement
Pressure injuries pose a significant burden to both patients and health care facilities.
There are an increasing number of studies that have examined the use of prophylactic dressings,
and their ability to redistribute pressure and protect the skin from shear and friction damage
(Cornish L, 2017.) The prevention of pressure injuries has been more effective, rather than
having to treat the injury once it occurs. One of the many interventions that has been successful
in preventing unit acquired pressure injuries on my unit is the use of pink sacral foams and doing
skin checks at every shift change. Pressure ulceration is a significant global healthcare problem
and represents a considerable burden on healthcare resources. With the implementation of skin
checks during shift change, as well as a skin check slip check off to ensure that skin checks were
being completed pressure injuries have decreased significantly on this nurse’s unit.
Purpose of the Change Proposal
As with any pressure injury, prevention is key. By preventing pressure injuries to
patients’ nurses are providing quality care and ensuring that their patients are taken care of. If
that patient was to develop a pressure injury while there, they would not only have to stay longer
but then gain the risk of developing an infection and leads the patient and their family to distrust
the facility and feel that they weren’t given the quality of care that they deserved. Also, in
preventing pressure injuries it is more cost effective as it is more costly to treat the injuries, than
it is to treat them when they do occur as they usually become infected and cause the patient to
stay in the hospital longer.
PICOT
, CAPSTONE PROJECT PRESSURE INJURIES 3
POPULATION: patients on a rehabilitation unit
INTERVENTION: applying sacral foams and ensuring that skin checks are done at shift change
COMPARISON: turning and repositioning
OUTCOME: Decrease the amount of unit acquired pressure injuries on patients during their
hospital stay
TIME: measured weekly for ten weeks
QUESTION: Are patients whose skin is being checked as well as being turned and repositioned
less likely to develop a pressure injury compared to those who are just being turned and
repositioned?
Pressure injuries have been a significant burden to patients and health care workers for
years. In preventing pressure injuries, it not only decreases the stress on the patient, it reduces the
risk of infection, and increases the quality of care that can be provided to the patient. One of the
interventions that has been successful in preventing unit acquired pressure injuries on this
nurse’s unit is the use of pink sacral foams and doing skin checks at every shift change. Pressure
ulceration is a significant global healthcare problem and represents a considerable burden on
healthcare resources. Within the literature an increasing number of studies have examined the
role prophylactic dressings play in redistributing pressure and helping to protect the skin from
the effects of friction and shear (Brown J, 2016) Turning and repositioning patients is one way to
help prevent pressure injuries but applying prophylactic dressings like previously stated helps
protect the skin and the skin checks ensures that the nurses are laying eyes on their patients and
checking their skin. It is a part of every nurse assessment which is required every shift. Pressure
ulcers result in pain and poor quality of life for patients as well as being regarded as an indicator
