A Nurse-Initiated Perioperative Pressure Injury Risk Assessment and Prevention Protocol

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Surgical Care

Background:

• Pressure injuries pose significant physical, emotional, and economic burdens on patients.
• High incidence of pressure injuries (69%) reported in hospitalized surgical patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a nurse-initiated, perioperative pressure injury risk assessment measure.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the risk assessment and prevention measures in reducing pressure injuries in surgical patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective application of a validated risk assessment tool to 350 surgical patients.
• Prospective implementation of the risk assessment and evidence-based prevention interventions for 350 surgical patients.

Main Results:

• The prospective use of the risk assessment and prevention measures led to a 60% reduction in pressure injuries compared to the retrospective group.
• Validation of the nurse-initiated risk assessment measure in a midwestern, urban, adult teaching hospital.

Conclusions:

• A multipronged approach is effective in preventing health care-associated pressure injuries in the surgical population.
• Key components include risk assessment, evidence-based interventions, and continuity of care beyond the perioperative period.