Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Pressure Injury Prevention Practices: A Descriptive Survey

The purpose of this study was to explore neonatal nursing practices for neonatal pressure injury (PI) risk assessment, pressure redistribution surface use, and moisture management.

A descriptive survey.

A sample of 252 neonatal nurses mainly from the United States responded to a survey distributed electronically through the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, the Academy of Neonatal Nurses, and on the Wound Source Web site.

Nurses responded to questions that explored what neonatal nurses used to assess PI risk, types of pressure redistribution surfaces used for neonates, and what moisture management strategies were used to prevent PIs. Descriptive statistics were used to describe nurses' practices.

When assessing risk, 78% (n = 197/252) reported using a risk assessment scale: the 2 most common scales were the Neonatal Skin Risk Assessment Scale and the Braden Q Scale. Sixty-nine percent (n = 174/252) reported using a rolled blanket or small soft object as pressure redistribution surfaces. In addition, 15% (n = 39) reported the use of different types of positioners such as a fluidized positioner as pressure redistribution surfaces; however, these are marketed as a positioning devices. It appears that these interventions were considered redistribution surfaces by the nurses. For moisture management, petrolatum-based products (6.7%; n = 17/252) and ostomy powders (6%; n = 16/252) were most frequently used.

Practices for PI prevention are different for neonatal patients due to their gestational age, size, and level of illness. Findings from this study create a beginning knowledge of and an opportunity for further research to determine how these practices affect outcomes such as PI incidence and prevalence.