Nurses' assessment and documentation of peripheral edema

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Peripheral edema is a common clinical sign requiring accurate assessment.
• Standardized methods for assessing and documenting peripheral edema are not universally established in nursing practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate current nursing practices for assessing peripheral edema.
• To identify the documentation methods employed by nurses for peripheral edema.
• To understand nurses' perceived proficiency and needs regarding edema assessment.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 211 nurses at a major urban academic health center.
• The survey collected data on the methods used for peripheral edema assessment and documentation.

Main Results:

• Nurses utilize a diverse range of methods for assessing peripheral edema.
• Documentation of peripheral edema occurs across multiple, varied forms.
• A significant number of nurses reported a lack of proficiency in edema assessment.

Conclusions:

• There is a need for standardized protocols and clear parameters to guide nurses in peripheral edema assessment.
• Enhanced education and training may improve nurses' confidence and competence in evaluating peripheral edema.
• Improving assessment and documentation practices can lead to more consistent patient care.