Risk factors, prevention methods, and wound care for patients with pressure ulcers

The purposes of this study about patients with pressure ulcers were to: (a) examine demographic characteristics, laboratory values, Braden Scale scores, and presence of pressure ulcer prevention methods and (b) examine pressure ulcers in terms of classification, stage, wound care, and documentation. The investigation was a prospective, descriptive study; the methods used were patient observations and data recordings from the medical record. Of the patients followed (n = 694), 71 had pressure ulcers. Patients with pressure ulcers were significantly older, with longer lengths of stay, more comorbid conditions, lower blood hemoglobin, lower serum albumin, higher white blood cell counts, and lower Braden Scale scores than patients without pressure ulcers. The presence of pressure ulcer prevention methods was greatly lacking. Nosocomial pressure ulcers tended to be a lower stage compared with pressure ulcers present on admission. Dressings used for wound care were generally gauze or a hydrocolloid. Nurses' charting about pressure ulcers was complete for only 35% of notations. The results of this study indicate that advanced practice nurses have a critical role in caring for patients with pressure ulcers and educating care providers.