Abstract

Background and Significance: In the United States, regulatory agencies are required to be notified when a patient exhibits a stage 2 pressure ulcer. Without initial identification of this community acquired pressure ulcer upon admission, it will be considered hospital acquired. Therefore, the hospital will then need to assume care and cost to manage and treat this pressure ulcer.

Method: The method a randomized, cross over trial was conducted. A convenience sample of 72 RNs participated in this study. A baseline, each RN performed an admission assessment on 2 simulated patients with dark pigmented skin with pressure ulcers on bony prominences and devices. After that education was conducted, another assessment occurred using the opposite mannequin. The number of pressure ulcers was to be identified for baseline and after the treatment (education).

Results: Paired T Tests compared results from morning to afternoon. Also, there was a comparison between Hispanic and African American mannequins. The number of pressure ulcers identified between the AM and PM session improved slightly. However, the paired t-test indicates that results were statistically significant between comparisons.

Implications: Providing education for assessing ethnically diverse patient population with medical devices should be part of initial and ongoing training for all staff nurses. A follow up study should be conducted several months after the initial study. This small study demonstrated that further research needs to be conducted where there are patient populations that are not culturally diverse. The ethnic diversity of our nurses reflects our patient population, thus assessment of dark pigmentation did not make a difference. Device use is very high within the hospital system and nurses must assess underneath each device to prevent potential harm.

Description

41st Biennial Convention - 29 October-2 November 2011. Theme: People and Knowledge: Connecting for Global Health. Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & convention Center.

Author Details

Katherine Ricossa, RN, MS

Sigma Membership

Unknown

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Simulation, Community Acquired, Pressure Ulcers

Conference Name

41st Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Grapevine, Texas, USA

Conference Year

2011

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Identification of staff RN's ability to assess community acquired pressure ulcers among ethnically diverse patients: Hispanics and African-American utilizing simulation

Grapevine, Texas, USA

Background and Significance: In the United States, regulatory agencies are required to be notified when a patient exhibits a stage 2 pressure ulcer. Without initial identification of this community acquired pressure ulcer upon admission, it will be considered hospital acquired. Therefore, the hospital will then need to assume care and cost to manage and treat this pressure ulcer.

Method: The method a randomized, cross over trial was conducted. A convenience sample of 72 RNs participated in this study. A baseline, each RN performed an admission assessment on 2 simulated patients with dark pigmented skin with pressure ulcers on bony prominences and devices. After that education was conducted, another assessment occurred using the opposite mannequin. The number of pressure ulcers was to be identified for baseline and after the treatment (education).

Results: Paired T Tests compared results from morning to afternoon. Also, there was a comparison between Hispanic and African American mannequins. The number of pressure ulcers identified between the AM and PM session improved slightly. However, the paired t-test indicates that results were statistically significant between comparisons.

Implications: Providing education for assessing ethnically diverse patient population with medical devices should be part of initial and ongoing training for all staff nurses. A follow up study should be conducted several months after the initial study. This small study demonstrated that further research needs to be conducted where there are patient populations that are not culturally diverse. The ethnic diversity of our nurses reflects our patient population, thus assessment of dark pigmentation did not make a difference. Device use is very high within the hospital system and nurses must assess underneath each device to prevent potential harm.