Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers
Case: A 74-year-old frail female with a history of diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was admitted from a long-term-care facility for difficulty breathing. Her condition deteriorates and she's intubated and sedated. A skin assessment isn't completed upon admission. On day 5 of admission, a nurse documents a Stage II pressure ulcer on the sacrum and a Stage I on both heels. There's sparse documentation throughout her hospital stay, and the transfer summary to the long-term care facility is silent on the condition of the patient's skin. Upon arrival at the nursing home, the admitting nurse documents Stage III pressure ulcers.Documentation! It's essential, and the lack of it in this case clearly demonstrates increased liability. Assessment and documentation of findings is the third of the top three recommendations to reduce liability in the nurse claims study mentioned in case #2.8 A comprehensive skin assessment must be done upon admission, with periodic reassessments throughout the hospital stay, including at the time of any transfers. Clearly documented present-on-admission skin breakdown is critical not only for reimbursement purposes, but also from the risk and standards of care perspectives. Risk assessment using established measures such as the Braden scale standardizes practice.Frequency of ongoing risk assessments and documentation must be defined by the organization. Assessment every shift of pressure areas is minimal for patients at high risk. Monthly prevalence rounds with sharing and benchmarking of unit and overall outcomes facilitate goal achievement. Turning and positioning as part of regular patient rounding is fundamental, along with staff education at all levels in prevention, assessment, pressure ulcer staging, and intervention techniques. The value of the certified wound-care nurse specialist both in individual cases and for overall program development can't be overstated. Developing unit champions for daily coaching and resource is another good strategy. Bundled preventive measures such as "Skinsavers" pull it all together:S: suspend heelsK: keep the head of bed at 30 degreesI: inspect skin daily and at every turnN: nutrition and hydrationS: side-lying positioning 30-degree angleA: apply moisture barrier if incontinentV: vigilant skin care and moistureE: encourage mobilityR: reposition at least every 2 hoursS: support surfaces bed and chair.18"Catchy" bundles help staff stay focused on necessary steps and promote accountability.19
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9. Clinical competency
Case: Mrs. L is receiving chemotherapy via a peripheral line. The float nurse encounters resistance to flow and repositions the patient's arm. Two hours later the patient complains of severe burning at the site and the nurse notes the I.V. is infiltrated with significant redness and swelling. She discontinues the line and applies a warm compress, but is unaware of the protocol for chemoinfiltrations. The patient develops compartment syndrome and requires surgical intervention."Right staffing" as a management responsibility involves more than quantity; it also means matching staff competencies to patient needs.20 Managers must identify required competencies based on the population served and standards of care in the clinical area, including documentation and communication skills, and then regularly assess staff competencies. It not only makes sense but also is a Joint Commission Standard (HR 01.06.01). Availability of 24-hour staff resources is a component of facilitating clinical competency. Temporary staff, whether per diem, float, or agency, can only be assigned patients within their scope of practice and competency level. The primary nurse must also recognize the relationship of clinical competency to patient safety when delegating patient-care responsibilities to others. Nursing staff unable to demonstrate a competency should be helped to achieve it through coaching, education, and subsequent observation. Sometimes a nurse may fail to achieve the performance standard, and if the reasons can't be identified and rectified, then another position must be chosen by the practitioner to ensure patient safety and organizational/individual liability reduction. Staff and managers should collaborate at all levels to ensure the right people are in the right places at the right time.