Prevention of Pressure Ulcers in the ICU

A pressure ulcer is defined by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel as an injury to the skin usually localized over a bony prominence caused by sustained pressure at the site. Pressure ulcers are a widespread problem throughout hospitals, especially on intensive care units (ICU) where there is an increased acuity of the patient population. Their occurrence can result in many problems, including an increased financial burden to the hospital and an increased risk of mortality. The purpose of this project is to educate the staff on the ICU at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, a 473-bed hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut, about preventative measures to be taken to reduce the occurrence of pressure ulcers. By using evidenced based research, the causes of pressure ulcers and interventions to prevent their occurrence were investigated. An informational pamphlet was created depicting pressure ulcer prevention methods with the goal of reducing or eliminating the incidence of pressure ulcers on the ICU at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. The anticipated outcome of this educational tool will be measured by comparing data pre- and post-implementation of the educational pamphlet at St. Vincent’s Medical Center regarding the incidence of pressure ulcers