07PT_Wounds_What_can_we_do
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Transcript 07PT_Wounds_What_can_we_do
WOUNDS: WHAT CAN WE DO?
PRESENTED BY: HEATHER THOMPSON RN
RNAO LTC BEST PRACTICE CO-COORDINATOR
LHIN 13 NORTH EAST REGION
Objectives
Define a pressure ulcer
Identify risk factors or warning signs
Discuss Best Practices related to wound prevention
and treatment plans
Discuss the “Team” and your role in wound care
Hand on exercise: “Tender touch”
“Your are tearing me apart”
“ Orange you glad we did this”
Key Terms
Friction- mechanical force exerted on the skin
Shearing- skin remains stationary and underlying
tissue moves, tears and stretches
BPG- (Best Practice Guideline)
Team- client, family, care giver, nurse, Doctor,
Occupational and Physical therapist, Dietician and more
Braden Scale - useful assessment tool to determine risk
of skin breakdown
Moisture- due to incontinence or perspiration
Sensory – ability to feel and understand
Nutrition – protein to assist in healing
Wound Definition
“an area of localized damage to the skin and
underlying tissue caused by pressure, shear, friction
and/or a combination of these” European Pressure Ulcer Advisory
Panel EPUAP (2003)
Typically found over bony areas and can occur
anywhere
The tissue does not receive adequate nutrition and
becomes necrotic and dies
Wounds are staged based on degree of tissue
damage.
What do we know?
Preventing the development of pressure ulcers is a
huge challenge
Data (1990-2003) shows 29% incidence in Canada
Further challenged by limited resources
Costs, knowledge and time to name a few
Myths and Truth
Myth
Pressure Ulcers are
prevented by nurses
Sheepskin prevent Pressure
Ulcers
Pressure redistribution
surface prevents Pressure
Ulcer alone
Truth
It takes team work: Client,
Family, Care giver, Nurse,
Doctor, Physical and
Occupational therapist,
Dietitian
Made of wool and
polyester, reduce friction at
start but material
deteriorates quickly
They help but client still
needs repositioning
What can we do?
Knowledge
Prevention
Protection
Assessment
Communication
Teamwork
Best Practice Guideline
Assessment &
Management
of Stage I – IV
Pressure Ulcers
And
Risk Assessment &
Prevention of Pressure
Ulcers
Free download at
http://ltctoolkit.rnao.ca
Evidence-Based Practice
Evidence-based practice is the integration of best research
evidence with clinical expertise and patient values to
facilitate clinical decision making.
DiCenso et al., 2005
What the Wound BPG can do?
To demonstrate that the implementation of a
standardized skin and wound care program,
partnered with an ongoing educational program
has a result in the reduction of internally acquired
pressure ulcers.
Function of the skin
Protects to keeps harmful substances out; keeps
water and electrolytes in
Supports internal structures and organs
Assists in production of vitamin D
Performs excretory function
Performs sensory role
Assists in regulating body temperature
Skin
Largest organ
Two layers:
Epidermis
Dermis
Subcutaneous
tissue
So how do pressure ulcers form
Greatest damage over bony prominence
Ulcer already started by the time you see the redness
Can increase in severity in just one day if not
addressed
Pressure over area will significantly decrease the
blood flow and delivery of nutrients to an area,
causing eventual death of cells
Staging of Wounds
Stage 1 −
discolouration of the
skin, warmth, swelling
or hardness
Stage 2− partial
thickness skin loss
involving epidermis or
dermis, or both. May
look like an abrasion
or blister
Staging of Wounds
Stage 3– full thickness
skin loss involving
damage to or cell death of
underlying tissue, may
extend down to, but not
through, fibrous tissue
beneath the skin
Stage 4 – extensive tissue
cell death, or damage to
muscle, bone or
supporting structures with
or without full thickness
skin loss
Risk Factors
Uncontrolled
Controlled
Age and gender
Positioning
Body size
Shearing and Friction
Medication
Medical condition
Nutritional and
hydration status
Mobility
Environment
moisture
Surface areas
Mobility
Environment
Nutritional and
hydration status
moisture
Watch for Warning Signs
Incontinent
Excessive perspiration
Cannot change position on own, limited mobility
Weight loss, dehydration
Discoloured, swollen skin over bony areas or skin
tear areas
Poor circulation, history of pressure ulcers
Decrease in senses
Pain
Action to Protection
Assessment of risks weekly performed by client,
caregiver, nurse. Use of effective tool (Braden Scale)
Communicate results
Improved nutrition: Dietician assessment ongoing,
act on dietician suggestions
Communicate results
Physical Therapist assessment to maintain or
improve mobility, Occupational Therapist
assessment
Communicate results
Action to Protection
Manage Moisture: Moisture increases the risk for
pressure ulcers. Two sources of moisture are urine and
sweat.
Manage Nutrition & Hydration: Nutrition and
Hydration are important in keeping skin healthy
Manage Friction, Sheer and Pressure: Reducing friction,
sheer and pressure helps to prevent pressure ulcers.
Manage Repositioning: Repositioning helps prevent
pressure ulcers.
Manage Sensory/Perception: If a patient is unable to
feel pain or pressure normally, they can be injured without
knowing it.
Pain Management
http://ltctoolkit.rnao.ca/sites/ltc/files/resources/pressure_ulcer/AssessmentTools/Painmangementflowre
cord.pdf
Severity of pain pre-treated
Location of pain
Quality of pain
Regular pain medication
time
Non-pharmacological
treatment
Severity of pain post
treatment
What to Report
Pressure, shearing, friction
level of mobility
sensory impairment
continence
level of consciousness
Exacerbation of acute, chronic and terminal illness
What to Report
Posture
Cognition, psychological status
Previous pressure damage
Nutrition and hydration status
Moisture to the skin
Pressure Relief Devices
Heel and elbow protectors
Bed cradle and foot board
Air flow mattress
Alternating pressure bed
Special cushions for chair
Other Actions
Nutritional support
Skin barriers
Positioning techniques
Incontinence management program (Best Practice
Guidelines: Promoting Continence using Prompted
Voiding and Prevention of Constipation in the older
Adult Population)
Education
Communication
Summary of Wound management
History, physical assessment, motivation for
treatment
Involve the client, family, dietary, OT, PT, nurses,
dietician and care giver
Ongoing assessment or at least every 3 months
and when there is a change in condition
Contributing factors: mattress, surface supports,
transfer type, mobility, nutrition and knowledge
Look at the whole person
Team Roles
Resident – prevention, treatment plan,
communication
PSW and Care Giver – prevention, skin screening,
treatment evaluation, communication
Nurse –prevention, pain control, assessment,
treatment, evaluation, communication
OT and PT –prevention, physical assessments,
treatment, evaluation, communication
Family – prevention, care routines,
communication
Knowledge can be Fun
Exercise “Tender Touch”
Exercise “ You are tearing me apart”
Exercise “Orange you glad we did this”
Questions and Discussion
References
RNAO. (2007, March). Assessment & Management of Stage I-IV Pressure
Ulcers.
RNAO. (2005, March). Risk Assessment & Prevention of Pressure Ulcers.
Potter & Perry. (2006). Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing 3rd ed. Chapt. 43
Potter & Perry. (2006). Clinical Nursing Skills & Techniques 6th ed. Chapt. 13
Website resource: http://ltctoolkit.rnao.ca
Janet Evans BScN MN BPG Coordinator LHIN 11