July Update and Hospital Site Selection

• 7/29/2009
• Author: Nurse Scholar
• Category: Nurse Safety Scholar Blog on Pressure Ulcers
• 24856 Views
• 2 Comments
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In just two weeks we will be entering the 4th month of this project. During the summer months we should be taking some time off and enjoying the weather and time with family. The importance of protecting patients from injuries never stops, no matter the season. Caring for hospitalized patients is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week process, so prevention strategies have to carry over through night shifts, weekends and holidays.

This note is an update of what is happening so far and a little about where I hope this project is going. There have been some interesting questions, comments and ideas that have come up in many conversations with nurses. Does your staff know how to access a special bed on off hours? A number of nurses have told me about algorithms and protocols they have developed as a way to avoid delays in ordering products. These documents are helpful when staff is confused about what to order or the process of ordering is too complicated and requires a signature from an administrator or doctor. I heard today about a pressure ulcer prevention hand-off form being used at one hospital in order to make sure that information about patient protection from pressure ulcers is passed on from nurse to nurse. Do the nurses in your facility report their patients’ Braden scores? One favorite strategy being used in some hospitals is playing a short run of music every two hours during the daytime that will trigger staff to reposition patients – one song mentioned was “Turn, Turn, Turn.” 

We have completed the selection process and four hospital systems will be working with us to refine their pressure ulcer programs by eliminating or, at least, minimizing barriers to implementing strategies for prevention. We are interested in hearing stories from the field about successes and challenges that you have experienced. More information about the participating sites will be shared soon. A selection of articles that may be of interest to the group will also be posted. 

Keep the pressures low and Turn, Turn, Turn

Best regards,
Irene