NURS9124: Problem Solving and Communication in Healthcare

This presentation outlines a 5-step problem-solving process applied to healthcare, specifically focusing on the prevention of heel ulcers in high-dependency patients. The process involves recognizing and defining the problem, developing potential solutions, evaluating these solutions, implementing the chosen solution, and evaluating its effectiveness. The presentation details the nature of heel ulcers, their causes such as immobility, diabetes, and malnutrition, and preventive measures like regular repositioning, calf elevation, and early ambulation. It emphasizes the advantages of the 5-step model, including its clarity and detailed analysis, while also acknowledging its disadvantages, such as being time-consuming and potentially involving multiple departments. The presentation concludes by generalizing the problem-solving process, highlighting its straightforwardness and effectiveness in addressing healthcare challenges. Desklib offers a wealth of similar resources and solved assignments for students.

5-step problem solving process

Description of the process
• This process involves fives steps
• The steps are:
• Recognizing and defining the problem.
• Developing different solution for the problem.
• evaluation of the possible solutions.
• Implementation of the solution.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution(Van
Aken 2018).

Description of the practice problem
• In this process I am going to use the
prevention of heel ulcer in patients in the high
dependency areas.
• It is an ideal fit for explaining this process
• Heel ulcer prevention is a problem that would
utilize the five steps effectively (Van Aken
2018).

A heel ulcer
• A heel ulcer is a form of pressure sore that occurs
on the heel of the leg.
• It occurs in patient who are immobile for long
periods.
• This patients may be in a hospital or at their home
• Immobility impairs peripheral perfusion,
eventually impairing the skin integrity.
• Impaired skin may break easily which leads to an
ulcer formation.

Factors leading to heel ulcer formation
• Immobility is the most leading cause of heel
ulcers.
• However there are other causes such us:
• Diabetes.
• Old-age.
• Malnutrition.
• Sensory impairment to the legs.
• Multiple comorbidities (Delmore 2015).

Prevention of heel ulcer formation
• Preventing a leg ulcer is better than curing one
• There are many approaches to preventing the
ulcer formation and they are:
• Change the clients position every two hours.
• Elevate the patients calf on a pillow.
• Use of moisturizer on the heels.
• Use of devices that elevate the leg (Baath
2016).

Prevention of heel ulcer continuation….
• Ambulate the patient early.
• Ensure adequate nutrition.

How to use the problem solving process
• Using the five steps in the problem solving
process will help solve the heel ulcer problem.
• First the leader has to recognize and define the
problem.
• Then develop a variety of solutions.
• Evaluate possible solutions and choose the best.
• Implement the solution.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution.

Generalization of the problem solving
process by the viewer
• The process Is very straight forward.
• However, its effectiveness is unquestionable.
• It will not take so much time to understand
the effectiveness.
• The steps are clearly written and defined.
• In my view it is the best problem solving
process to use.

Advantages of the 5-step problem solving
model
• It is easy to understand.
• Its steps are clearly written.
• It helps analyze the problem in details.

Disadvantages of the 5-step problem solving
process
• It is time consuming.
• It covers a wide area.
• It may involve more than one department.

References
• Baath, C,EM,GLAAAM 2016, 'Prevention of heel pressure ulcers
among older patients-from ambulance care to hospital discharge: A
multi-centre randomized controlled trial.', APPLIED NURSING
RESEARCH, vol 30, pp. 170-175.
• Delmore, B,LS,SB,RLAAEA, 2015, 'Risk factors associated with heel
pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients.', Journal of Wound Ostomy
& Continence Nursing, , vol 3, no. 42, pp. 24@-@$8.
• Van Aken, J.E. and Berends, H., 2018. Problem solving in
organizations. Cambridge University Press.