Preventing Pressure Sores: Education and Interventions for Clinicians and Patients

NURSING
ASSIGNMENT

Pressure Sores
 Pressure sores, or pressure ulcers are termed as
pressure injuries which refers to the localized
damage to the skin or underlying tissue of an
individual. The occurrence of the pressure sores has
been found over bony prominence as the outcome
of the pressure combined with friction (Demarre
et al., 2015).

Sign & symptoms of bed sores
 It has been found that the ulcers mostly develop
in the parts of skin which covers the bony
prominences such as hips, heels, and ankles. One
of the first and common sign of pressure sores is
the darkening, or discolouring of the skin. It may
feel hard and warm to touch that particular area
for the person.

Risk factors of pressure
sores
 It is one of the most common issue, as
around 700,000 people are affected by
ulcers each year.
 The elderly and individuals with the
decreased mobility are largely found to
develop pressure sores (Graves and Zheng,
2014).
 Thus, risk factors consists of poor
nutrition, hydration, immobility, or lack
of sensory perception (Bus et al, 2016).

Complications
 Pressure ulcers results into few life-threatening
complications/health outcomes to an individual.
 Complications such as Cellulitis, Bone and joint
infections, cancer and Sepsis (Ham et al., 2014).
 Amongst these the most serious health issue is
cancer which influences the health for a longer
period (Eljedi, ElDaharja and Dukhan, 2015).

General prevention
 To prevent the issue of pressure ulcers,
an individual can work on reducing the
stress on their skin.
 It also includes taking care of the skin,
intake of good nutrition, quitting
smoking, or exercising daily.
 Acquiring required information or
knowledge will also assist the patient
towards improvement.