Effects of Increasing Education for Clinicians on Stress While Treating Pressure Injuries

Previous healthcare professionals researched the effects of treating and healing pressure injuries within long-term care facilities. This study was conducted to explore the stress clinicians face when treating pressure injuries in the long-term care setting. This qualitative study provides information for the need to educate nurses about treating and healing pressure injury. It was derived from a phenomenological study that incorporated real life perspectives of individuals responsible for treating and healing pressure injury. This study was guided by Castles and Ferguson’s conceptual framework related to employee perceptions on pressure injuries, employee level of education and knowledge about improving quality initiatives can impact treatment protocols on pressure injuries. This study was conducted in 3 nursing facilities in California using data collected voluntarily using the Pressure Ulcers Knowledge Test by Pieper and Zulkowski tool. Data were collected from surveys with 24 participants and2 interviews. The demographic information and narrative interviews were transcribed through use of NVIVO to identify themes and coded for analysis of these phenomenological perspectives. The pressure injury data was analyzed using SPSS. The analysis reflected that Registered Nurses are key to treating and healing pressure injuries. Education and reduction of stress during the treatment of pressure injuries improves outcomes. The study results showed participants felt satisfaction when they minimize pressure injuries to residents within long-term care; clinicians stress also decreased through increased education for them and systematic changes with early education during clinical rotations to impact social change with leaders in long-term facilities