Role Of The Nurse When Dealing With Impaired Skin Integrity

SSKIN is a group of evidence based interventions that, if used properly, will reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers (Whitlock, 2013). The effectiveness of this method can be measured by using each step efficiently and collaborating with other members of the health care team. The outcome of these interventions will result in prevention of pressure ulcerations on patients. These interventions will be evaluated by the number of patients who still obtain pressure ulcers even while using these steps. Educating staff should be implemented if a patient obtains a pressure ulcer after using the SSKIN tool. Education and training are the key in using the SSKIN methods, as well as a stable knowledge base on maintaining skin integrity (Whitlock, 2013).

The effectiveness of these evidence based practice interventions can all be measured through trial and error. The nurse should document each evaluation outcome for analyzing to improve or continue with these interventions.

Conclusion

In conclusion the role of the nurse when dealing with impaired skin integrity; especially dealing with pressure ulcers include, but is not limited to the prevention of skin breakdown, wound care after the formation of pressure ulcers, and proper teaching of healthcare personnel in reference to the most current evidence based practice on prevention and care.

Based on current evidence based practice and nursing standards, the patient who has increased risk for pressure ulcer formation should be turned at the minimum of one time in a given two hour period. This will dramatically decrease the possibility of skin breakdown that could become a pressure ulcer by quite a bit. Some ideas that have come up recently include trying to find special mattresses that help shi...

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...ve basic knowledge on how to help keep normal skin integrity prior to using the SSKIN method. However, in the end all methods of intervention are best done by use of trial and error. Being patient centered we want to make sure that if our interventions are not correcting the situation, then we need to change our process to provide better care to our patients. There is a new bandage created called the “smart bandage”, which could potentially help reduce the possibility of pressure ulcers. It is being tested out now in clinical trials (Yang, 2015).

With these implementations nurses can help to prevent pressure ulcers. As we move forward in technology the potential for unlocking new ways to prevent, care for, and teach not only our patients but staff about pressure ulcers. Again, we always need to look forward and always look for the best evidence based practice.