Essay on Unit 229 Workbook Pressure Sores

Outcome 1: Understand the anatomy and physiology of the skin in relation to pressure area care

Pressure ulcers are a serious problem in the medical world today. They affect millions of people and cost medical facilities billions of dollars annually. In order to help prevent pressure ulcers, it is important to understand how and why they happen, the risk factors involved for patients and what can be done to prevent them. Many studies have been done to assess different techniques for preventing and treating pressure ulcers. In addition to using the best medical products, it has been found that proper education for the nurse and the patient plays an integral role in the prevention and treatment of ulcers. This paper will discuss evidence based practice, the nursing role, and client education in pressure ulcer formation and healing.

The skin belongs to the Integumentary system. The Integumentary system is an organ system consisting of the skin, hair, nails, and exocrine glands. The skin is the largest organ in the body. Its main duty is to protect the body. It also has to retain body fluids, protect against disease, and control the body temperature.

A pressure ulcer is an area of skin with unrelieved pressure resulting in ischemia, cell death, and necrotic tissue. The constant external pressure or rubbing that exceeds the arterial capillary pressure (32 mm Hg) and impairs local normal blood flow to tissue for an extended period, results in pressure ulcer (Brunner and Smeltzer, 2013). According to National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, 2014, pressure ulcers are a major burden to the society, as it approaches $11 billion annually, with a cost range from $500 to $70,000 per person pressure ulcer. It is a significant healthcare problem despite much investment in education, training, and prevention equipment. This paper includes two different studies to link cause-effect and prevention of pressure ulcers.

Pressure ulcers are localized wounds to the skin that are also known as decubitus ulcers, or are known by the colloquial term “bed sores.” They are common occurrences in healthcare that result from injuries to the skin and the tissues beneath it when the patient remains in one position for long periods of time. Pressure ulcers are typically located over an area with a bony prominence that then causes pressure on the skin. Pressure ulcers are especially common in individuals in extended care facilities, but can occur even in an acute setting. Pressure ulcers, in fact, can develop in just 24 hours, although they may not be apparent to healthcare providers until up to 7 days later (Truong, Grigson, Patel, & Liu, 2016).

Pressure ulcers (PUs) usually develop over a bony prominence as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear stress and/or friction. Additional contributing factors include immobilization and malnourishment. Groups known to have a high risk of developing PUs include bedridden patients, wheelchair-bound individuals, frail elderly persons with no or limited mobility, as well as individuals with diabetes, poor nutrition, and chronic blood-flow diseases. Pressure ulcers represent an enormous burden on our health care system and an enormous problem for health care providers. Pressure ulcers result in both an increased length of hospital stay and increased hospital costs. Once developed, PUs represents an acute health condition that

A pressure ulcer is defined as “a localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear,” according to the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, abbreviated NPAUP (2007). NPUAP (2007) redefined the definition and classification of a pressure ulcer in 2007. As a result of the modification, stages I-IV, the four original stages, underwent alterations to their existing classifications and definitions. In addition, two stages, deep tissue injury and unstageable resulted. Through an explanation and description of the development of a pressure ulcer and the stages, the anatomy is shown.

In the human body, there are 12 organ systems. Only one of them is home to the largest organ in our bodies. The integumentary system is home to the skin. Our skin acts a barrier to the outside world and protects us from all sorts of harm.

The skin is the largest organ of the body, it covers the whole body and they are water resistant.

The skin, or integumentary system, is the body's largest organ. It protects us from the outside world, and is our first defense against bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Our skin also helps regulate body temperature and eliminate waste through perspiration. In addition to skin, the integumentary system includes hair and nails

Furthermore, the skin is the single largest organ of the human body. It plays serves a numbers critical purposes, from protecting the body from infection to regulating temperature. Many people fail to realize the importance of skin health to baseline health.

The integumentary system is comprised of the skin, hair, nails, and glands associated with the skin. Together, these organs protect underlying tissues from physical and chemical harm, regulate body temperature, and produce vitamin D. The skin, also called the integument is the largest organ of the body. It is the perfect

An understanding of the structure of the integumentary system will assist in understanding how burn injuries affect the entire human body. The skin preforms anatomical and physiological functions which are essential to life. Damage to this system has the potential to cause irreversible chain reactions and wide spread systemic collapse that can lead to death. DermNet NZ (2006)

Do we ever think about our skin? It is the largest organ of our body.

Pressure Injuries—often referred to as pressure sores, bed sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers—are the injuries, sores, inflammation or ulcers in the skin over a bony prominence due to constant pressure or friction. The common sites for pressure injuries are sacrum, heels, elbows, ankles, hip, knees, occipital bones and shoulder blades (Harris, Nagy &Vardaxis, 2010, p.1404). A shearing force or a frequent pressure on a bony prominence tends to block the blood supply which leads to ischemia or cell death. Elderly, incontinent, wheelchair or bed-bound individuals are prone to pressure sores. However, it also depends on the individual’s skin integrity and weight (Brown & Edwards, 2012, p. 239). The pressure injury can affect any person of any age. Therefore, every patient requires an assessment for risks regardless of gender, age or weight. A pressure injury can develop with both the high pressure for short duration and low