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Senior nurses' control expectations and the development of pressure ulcers
1School of Care Sciences, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan. mmaylor@glam.ac.uk
Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|September 6, 2002
Summary
Senior nurses' belief in their control over preventing pressure ulcers was linked to higher ulcer prevalence. Conversely, lower perceived control correlated with fewer pressure ulcers, impacting patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Patient Safety
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Pressure ulcers are a significant concern in healthcare settings, impacting patient well-being and increasing costs.
- The role of nursing staff attitudes and beliefs in pressure ulcer prevention is not fully understood.
- Existing strategies often focus on clinical guidelines and risk assessment, potentially overlooking staff psychology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between senior nursing staff attitudes, specifically locus of control, and the prevalence of pressure ulcers.
- To determine if nurses' beliefs about controlling pressure ulcer prevention influence patient outcomes.
- To challenge the assumption that nurse leaders universally benefit patient care.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 439 nurses in an NHS trust assessed knowledge, control beliefs, and value of pressure ulcer prevention.
- Data collected included nurses' knowledge of prevention, use of risk assessment, departmental pressure ulcer prevalence, and locus of control.
- The study focused on measuring locus of control and its relationship with pressure ulcer prevalence.
Main Results:
- A strong correlation was found between departmental pressure ulcer prevalence and senior nursing staff attitudes.
- Higher perceived control over pressure ulcer prevention by ward sisters was associated with increased ulcer prevalence.
- Conversely, lower perceived control by ward sisters was linked to decreased pressure ulcer prevalence.
Conclusions:
- Staff beliefs, values, and expectations significantly influence patient outcomes and can lead to harm if disregarded.
- Overemphasis on clinical guidelines and risk assessment refinement may be less effective than addressing staff psychology.
- Findings challenge the universal benefit of nurse leaders and highlight the need to consider staff attitudes in pressure ulcer prevention strategies.