Pressure ulcer grading and appropriate equipment selection

This article explores the process and rationale for designing a poster to support community nurses in selecting appropriate pressure-relieving equipment based on accurate risk assessment and correct pressure ulcer grading. The project was prompted by the requirement to update community nurses' knowledge and ensure pressure-relieving equipment selection was evidence-based and not reliant on personal preference. The 2012 NHS Midlands and East 'Stop the pressure' campaign provided community nurses with a framework for pressure ulcer prevention and management. The attention to support surfaces highlighted the need for appropriate equipment. However the tissue viability team found that the introduction of this pathway alone did not help with the practical issues of appropriate equipment selection. The poster was designed with consideration as to how adults learn, and by looking to the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle. This provided the framework for enabling new ideas and changes to practice to be tested on a small scale before full implementation.