Importance of Preventing Pressure Injuries in Older Adults

Question: Discuss about the Report forImportance of Preventing Pressure Injuries in Older Adults. Answer: Introduction: Older adult patients are at high risk for development of pressure injuries because of the increased use of devices, hemodynamic instability due to medical conditions, insufficient intake of nutrients and liquids, and the use of vasoactive medications. Pressure injuries are still a common issue in all health care settings. They remain predominant and levy a significant liability on financial and labour assets in the healthcare industry (Doley 2010). The author chose this question as the work undertaken in his field of nursing, i.e., occupational health, is related to this. The author feels that this knowledge will improve the quality of health care by decreasing the cost associated with pressure injury treatments in his field of nursing and also the greater profession. Australian hospitals and health care settings spend approximate 350 million per year to prevent and treat pressure injuries. With the amount it costs for treatment, the author feels that it would be beneficial to research methods to lower the total cost on health care system. (FOnursing, page 1009). Along with the cost of treating pressure injuries, the author also wants to draw attention towards the pain and development of serious infection that can be caused by pressure injuries (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2015). Moreover, the health related quality of life of elderly patients is affected physically, socially, psychologically (Gorecki et al, 2009). It affects the healthcare professionalclient relationships, need for versus effect of interventions, impact on others, perceived etiology, and need for knowledge. Pressure injuries in elderly persons have also been related to the amplified mortality rates. Since pressure injuries are now reflected as an indicator of the quality of care provided, inability to avoid or rectify them may lead to litigation. Another major concern the author feels that need to be raised with pressure injuries is the prevention of pressure injuries. (FOnursing, page 1010). Development of clinical practices and guidelines to prevent hospital acquired pressure injuries should be based on most effective evidence based methods. Continued education of clinical practices and guidelines is necessary. Nurses must be educated to intervene positively in the process in order to prevent and treat pressure injuries. Research related to pressure injuries may lead to positive outcomes in pressure injury prevention and reduce the extra financial and labour burden on our health care system. References Doley, J., 2010. Nutrition Management of Pressure Ulcers. Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 25(1), pp.5060. Gorecki, C. et al., 2009. Impact of Pressure Ulcers on Quality of Life in Older Patients: A Systematic Review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 57(7), pp.11751183.