Monitoring pressure ulcers in nursing homes

Clinical indicators may be used to monitor the quality of care delivery. Unfortunately, they are often viewed by nursing staff as unnecessary paper work. This study used Waterlow's Pressure Sore Risk Assessment Tool as the basis of a clinical indicator to monitor pressure ulcers within a nursing home. It was found that by closely monitoring the skin status of residents, preventative actions could be implemented, thereby minimizing the risk of pressure ulcer development. The advantage of utilizing such a tool is that it is seen to be clinically relevant for nursing staff while providing a bank of data for quality management.