Innovation in prevention and treatment of pressure ulcer: Nursing implication

A pressure ulcer is a localized injury to the skin or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, due to unrelieved pressure. Pressure ulcers remain a major health problem affecting approximately three million adults. Prevalence differs based on settings but is 25% on the average. The cost of treatment of pressure ulcers is expensive. Cost of its treatment is two and a half times the cost of preventing them. Even though management of pressure ulcers involves multidisciplinary approach, its development is an index of poor Nursing care. Literature was reviewed and relevant information on the current trend in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers is provided to sensitize nurses of their indispensible role in pressure ulcer management. Management includes identifying at-risk persons and implementing specific prevention measures as well as wound care. Pressure ulcers significantly threaten the well-being of patients with limited mobility. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and lawsuits due to pressure ulcers are on the rise. Nursing remains at the forefront of protecting and safeguarding the patient from pressure ulcers. Every nurse must therefore embrace the new trend in the management of pressure ulcers to reduce cost of medical services, period of hospital stay as well as avoid litigation.