Download Preventing & Identifying Pressure Ulcers: Understanding Skin Vulnerabilities and more Slides Dermatology in PDF only on Docsity! How to Identify & Prevent Pressure Ulcers Docsity.com The Skin • Human body’s largest organ • Body’s first line of defense Docsity.com How does one form? • Pressure slows the blood flow to an area which leads to tissue death • “Friction” and “shear” can add to the problem Docsity.com Where do they form? • Pressure ulcers most often form over bony areas on the body Docsity.com What does it mean to “stage” a pressure ulcer? • Pressure ulcers are graded or “staged” to indicate the amount of tissue damage • Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, and Stage 4 Docsity.com Risk Factors • Inability to easily move or reposition • Incontinence Docsity.com A resident who spends most of their time sitting in a chair or in a wheelchair, is also at risk for developing a pressure ulcer. Risk Factors Docsity.com Risk Factors • Inability to feel and report pain • Lowered mental awareness Docsity.com What to look for on the skin • An area of skin that is noticeably different than the surrounding area • It may look red, and the redness does not “fade” when the skin is touched, and released (blanched). Docsity.com Residents with darker skin For residents with darker skin, the skin may look darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. Skin may look a little: red, blue, or purple in color. Docsity.com Another thing to try... Gently feel for a change in skin temperature: it may feel warmer or cooler than the surrounding area. A “suspicious area” may feel "spongy“ or "raised". Docsity.com Pressure ulcers usually form over a bony part of the body. Common places to find a pressure ulcer Docsity.com Tip: Good Lighting When you check a resident’s skin, be sure to have good lighting. Docsity.com Prevention • Skin Care – Check the skin on daily basis. – Check the skin while performing other care giving tasks Healthy skin is clean and moisturized, not dry, cracked, or scaly. Docsity.com Tip: Use a pillow After turning or helping a resident shift their weight, use a pillow to support the new position in the bed or chair. Docsity.com Review • encourage small shifts in weight if the resident is able • if a resident is on a turning schedule, be sure to stick to the schedule Prevention is the key Docsity.com Review • care for a resident’s skin (Healthy skin is clean and moisturized, NOT soiled, dry, cracked, or flakey.) Prevention is the key Docsity.com Review Always be on the look-out • look for an area of skin that looks noticeably different than the surrounding areas • especially on skin over the bony parts of the body Docsity.com Review You have a great opportunity to positively IMPACT the health and well-being of nursing home residents. Docsity.com
