Free Essay

Identify One Area of Nursing Research That Has Improved Patient Outcomes. State the Study and Its Impact on Patient Care.

In:

Submitted By Gal4get
Words 395
Pages 2
In the healthcare setting pressure sores (pressure ulcers) represent an ongoing challenge to health care professionals providing care to patients in diverse health-care settings. The incidence of pressure ulcers/sores is reported to be 2.5 million patients each year causing cost burden of 9.1 to
11.6 billion dollars each year in the United States (AHRQ, 2011).
One of the foundation study conducted to address this challenge was by Dr. Nancy Bergstrom in collaboration with Dr. Barbara Braden to develop and test the effectiveness of use of Braden
Scale for assessing risk of pressure sores. In their study, the tool was tested in a multisite clinical trial involving hospitals, Veterans Administration (VA) medical centers and skilled nursing facilities. The study concluded Braden Scale as an effective tool in determining risk of pressure sores in patients (NNIR, n.d). This research has served as a milestone in identifying and preventing pressure sores in high risk patient population.
The Braden Scale is among the most widely used tools used for predicting the risk of development of pressure sores. It assesses patient risk in six areas i.e. sensory perception, skin moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition and friction/ shear. The Braden Scale gives an item score in each subgroup ranging from one (highly impaired) to three/four (no impairment).Summing score of each subgroup yields a total overall risk for pressure ulcers ranging from 6-23 (Stotts, &
Gunningberg, 2007). The lower the score on the scale the higher is the risk of developing pressure sores. Based on the findings of the Braden scale strategies could be employed to prevent the development of pressure sores in high risk patients.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ], (2011). 1. Are we ready for this change?: Preventing pressure ulcers in hospitals: A toolkit for improving quality of care. Retrieved from website: http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/systems/long-term-care/resources/pressure-ulcers/pressureulcertoolkit/putool1.html
Stotts, N. A., & Gunningberg, L. (2007). Predicting pressure ulcer risk. AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 107(11), 40-48. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000298058.25564.8a
The National Institute Of Nursing Research [NINR], (n.d.). Developing an index to reduce pressure sore risk. Changing practice, changing lives: 10 landmark nursing research studies. Retrieved from website: http://www.ninr.nih.gov/sites/www.ninr.nih.gov/files/10-landmark-nursing-research-studies.pdf

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Identify One Area of Nursing Research That Has Improved Patient Outcomes. State the Study and Its Impact on Patient Care. How Have These Findings Changed Your Nursing Practice?

...Nurses use research to provide evidence based care that promotes quality health outcomes for the patients, families, communities, and the health care system. Nurses and other healthcare personnel are able to use the skills learned through evidence based research to decrease a patient’s length of stay, decreases morbidity and mortality, and healthcare cost. Nursing research is a scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new knowledge that directly and indirectly influences nursing practice (Burns & Grove, 2011). Extensive research is needed to develop sound empirical knowledge for synthesis into the best research evidence needed for practice. This research evidence might be synthesized to develop guidelines, standards, protocols, or policies to direct the implementation of a variety of nursing interventions (Burns & Grove, 2011). One example of nursing research that has improved patient outcomes is through the use of VAP (ventilator associated pneumonia) bundles in an intensive care unit setting for patients that are intubated for more than twenty four hours. VAP is pneumonia that occurs in a patient who was intubated and ventilated at the time of or within 48 hours before the onset of event (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.) The Institute of Health Improvement (IHI) developed a ventilator bundle that incorporates several strategies to prevent morbidity associated with being on a ventilator. These strategies included: elevation...

Words: 474 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Nvt Task2

...Governors University Nursing Program Interview Form This interview is to be conducted in person or over the phone. Persons being interviewed are not expected to respond in writing. Candidate name: Daniel S Kramer Candidate ID number: Student ID: 000257902 Name and title of the interviewee: Kimberly J Stults RN, MSN Describe the specialty area of the interviewee: Director of Education and Health Information Technology The interviewee belongs to the following category: Educator Educator Administrator Clinical Specialist Staff Nurse Nurse Researcher Date of interview: September 13, 2012 In person: X Via phone: 1. How would you describe your role in your current position and your educational preparation for this role? I am responsible for the initial creation, continuous education, and competency for whole house. I have my MSN in Nursing Education. This has prepared me and shown me the need for education services and the need to maintain competency for the staff. Provides the necessary tools to deliver current and competent care to our patients. My education has shown not only the need for education, but has provided insight into how to provide the educational programs/training to the staff. 2. How would you explain the unique contributions you as a nurse bring to an interdisciplinary team? Nurses are educated to look at the patient as a whole. I believe this...

Words: 3737 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

The Role of Nursing Advocacy Across All Healthcare Settings

...The Role of Nursing Advocacy Across all Healthcare Settings Nursing is an autonomous profession where lives are saved every day. Nursing advocacy can affect patient outcomes. As the nursing profession evolves and responsibilities increase, it is necessary to better understand the concept of nursing advocacy. The role of advocacy is not new for the nursing profession, but the nature of advocacy in the nursing practice remains ambiguous. Nurses are obligated to act as an advocate for their patients, but there is lack of clarity on how to perform this role. The purpose of this paper is to better understand nursing advocacy and to explore ways it is practiced across all fields of nursing in order to promote improved patient care. Advocacy is an essential role for the nursing profession; however, it can be affected by many factors. The goal of advocacy is to balance the relationship between the healthcare system and the patients who are served by evaluating patient/family needs, providing information and education, ensuring access to proper care and supporting the patient and family’s decision within the structure of a multidisciplinary team. This paper will explore the following research question: What are the variables that affect the role of nursing advocacy and in what ways is it practiced across all fields of nursing? Review of Literature Introduction The general topic of the review of literature is nursing advocacy. We are examining and exploring a clearer definition...

Words: 4638 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Home Health Nurses Evaluation

...Evaluation of Pre-Operative Teaching and Post-Operative Outcomes Ruth E. Harvath Liberty University The Journal of Nursing Education. Abstract A non-experimental, descriptive, quantitative, pilot study was conducted to explore the home health nurses’ perceptions about their patient’s pre-operative and post operative outcomes. Patient education is a major concern among healthcare providers in the surgical and home health settings. Patients’ have distinct levels of understanding, learning styles, and comprehension of materials in which need to be addressed in preparing a patient for surgery. Research has shown that complications can be prevented by efficient pre-operative education. It is suggested that patients and caregivers are given evidence based pre-operative education that meets the needs of the individual patient. The findings from this pilot study suggested that the perceptions of the home health nurses’ were that patient education should be designed to embrace patients at all levels of learning. Keywords: pre-operative, surgical, education, post-operative, outcomes, complication Home Health Nurses’ Evaluation of Pre-Operative Teaching and Post-Operative Outcome Introduction The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pre-operative education from a post-operative standpoint from home health nurses’ perspectives when caring for post-operative patients Individualized evidence based pre-operative education...

Words: 4311 - Pages: 18

Free Essay

Research Critique: Blood Stream Infections

...Running head: RESEARCH CRITIQUE: BLOOD STREAM INFECTIONS Research Critique Tom Jones Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi School of Nursing Nursing Research 5314 Fall 2005 Research Critique Introduction Blood stream infections associated with central venous catheters account for approximately 250,000 infections in the United States annually. The vast majority of these infections are preventable through education on best practice (Coopersmith et al., 2004). Best practice principles include hand washing, maximum sterile precautions, and labeled catheter dressings. Central venous catheters are routinely used in the critical care setting; therefore, posing an increased risk of infection. Furthermore, increases in morbidity, mortality, and cost are a result of blood stream infections from central lines (Warren et al., 2004). Research Problem Blood stream infections increase morbidity, mortality, cost, length of stay; furthermore, the literature shows that many of these infections are preventable. A staff education has proven to be cost effective and proficient in decreasing blood stream infections (Coopersmith, et al., 2004). Warren et al. (2004) states, “The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the utilization of health-care worker education is an important element in programs aimed at the prevention of hospital-acquired infections” (p.1613). A review of the literature explain nurse bedside behavior after education on hand washing...

Words: 2365 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Capstone

...percentages of patients admitted, reported falling of at least once during an inpatient hospital stay period” (Oliver, Healey, & Haines, 2010). The author works at a city hospital located in Gilbert, Arizona and encounters a great amount of orthopedic patients along with other general surgery patients. All patients that are on that floor are at a risk of falls during the first 48 hours after surgery due to anesthesia that is still in the system and pain medication that is scheduled to help ease the patient during the post-surgical time frame. One of the side effects of anesthesia exiting the body is nausea and vomiting which can make the patient feel dizzy and lightheaded, thus making them a great risk for falls. This has been the reason that the topic was chosen; to attempt to improve this issue in the hospital setting and to provide a system in which all hospital staff collaborate to help increase the quality of patient care. The location that is being observed is the post-surgical/orthopedic floor where the author is currently working. A description of risks and concerns are provided and patient outcomes depend on implementing the proposed interventions. The two solutions that are presented are hourly rounding and the importance of an improved nurse call light button and education on proper usage. Each intervention is supported by evidence-based practice peer-reviewed journal articles. The proposal will show the improvements of patient safety and increased patient compliance to...

Words: 8460 - Pages: 34

Premium Essay

Integrative Literature Review- Chlorhexidine Oral Care in Icu Patients

...PICO Question Population – Mechanically ventilated intensive care patients. Intervention – Oral care with chlorhexidine. Comparison – Oral care with other chlorhexidine. Outcome – Decreased oropharyngeal pathogen colonization reduces number of VAPs and lowering intubation time, hospital stay, and mortality rate Does the use of chlorhexidine oral care reduce the number of ventilator-acquired pneumonias? More specifically, determine the efficay of chlorhexidine in decontamminating the oral cavity of pathogens in mechanically ventilated intensive care patients based on published scientific literature. Significance of the Problem Pneumonia is the second most common nosocomial infection in the United States and the leading cause of death from nosocomial infections. Critically ill patients are a vulnerable population that is more susceptible to developing nosocomial infections. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) occurs in patients treated with mechanical ventilation, and is associated with a higher incidence in patients treated with continuous ventilatory support. These patients have 8% to 25% risk of developing VAP, and the risk increases by as much as 1% per ventilator day (CDC, 2015). VAP is considered a serious problem, because it extends hospital stay by 6 days or more, has substantial cost implications of up to $40,000 per patient episode, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates (CDC, 2015). Strategies for the reduction and prevention...

Words: 2702 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Empathy Article

...JAN REVIEW PAPER Measurement of empathy in nursing research: systematic review Juping Yu & Maggie Kirk Accepted for publication 16 July 2008 Correspondence to M. Kirk: e-mail: mkirk@glam.ac.uk Juping Yu MSc PhD RN Research Fellow Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK Maggie Kirk BSc PhD RN Head of Research/Leader Genomics Policy Unit and Lead Professional Specialist (Nursing Professions) NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK YU J. & KIRK M. (2008) Measurement of empathy in nursing research: systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 64(5), 440–454 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04831.x Abstract Title. Measurement of empathy in nursing research: systematic review. Aim. This paper is a report of a systematic review to identify, critique and synthesize nursing studies of the measurement of empathy in nursing research. Background. The profound impact of empathy on quality nursing care has been recognized. Reported empathy levels among nurses range from low to welldeveloped and there is clearly debate about what constitutes empathy and how it can be measured and improved. Data sources. Searches were made of the CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases, using the terms ‘empathy’, ‘tool’, ‘scale’, ‘measure’, ‘nurse’, and ‘nursing’, singly or in combination to identify literature published in the English language between 1987 and 2007. Methods...

Words: 10116 - Pages: 41

Premium Essay

Impact of Iom

...Nursing is a fast growing profession. A registered nurse is required to be capable enough to adapt to the modern techniques, equipments, and knowledge based procedure. According to the Institute of Medicine nursing is one of the biggest workforces in healthcare. By starting a transformation in the nursing field, there can be change in the healthcare industry (Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson foundation 2011). The Institute of Medicine, on October 5, 2010, released their research based report “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” as a recommendation to improve nursing. Nurse must be able to provide the public accessible and high quality healthcare, there needs to be a higher standard of healthcare and highly educated nurses Impact of the IOM report on nursing education The education nurses acknowledged during the twentieth century are no longer adequate enough to handle the requirements of today’s healthcare. “Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes flawless academic progression.”(Institute of Medicine, 2010). As the healthcare field moves forward, technology has played a major role. As technology advance, patient needs and healthcare setting have become more complex, nurses are required to acquire higher education to deliver high-quality and safe healthcare. Higher education in nursing includes Baccalaureate degree in Nursing, Doctorate in Nursing in Nursing Practice (Institute...

Words: 1587 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Professional Roles and Values

...NURS 2010 Project Janice Klein Westerns Governors University Nursing is a profession that has been influenced by nursing pioneers, scholars, government agencies and nursing organizations. Nurses need to develop a professional mission statement that defines our understanding of nursing concepts, our professional strengths and our critical thinking abilities. A. Functional Differences A regulatory agency, such as the Virginia Board of Nursing (VBON), is state government agency that exists solely to enforce the laws that regulate nursing practice. The BON protects the public’s safety and welfare by outlining the standards for safe nursing care, issuing licenses to practice nursing and monitoring compliance to state laws (McDaniel, 2013-14). The BON will investigate complaints of nurses not in compliance with the nurse practice act and will take necessary disciplinary action against nurses found in violation.  In addition, BONs approve pre-licensure nursing education programs and oversee the licensure examination of nurses. All health care professionals must pay licensure fees in order to practice legally in their state. These activities assure that the public is cared for by qualified individuals (McDaniel, 2013-14). Professional nursing organizations have the same goal as BONs, to protect the public, however the method by which it is accomplished is functionally different. Nursing organizations are nurses working together to develop professional standards and practices...

Words: 2753 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Homehealthcare

...HOME HEALTHCARE TENCY THOMAS AMERICAN SENTINEL UNIVERSITY HOME HEALTHCARE Home health care helps seniors live independently for as long as possible, given the limits of their medical condition. It covers a wide range of services and can often delay the need for long-term nursing home care. More specifically, home health care may include occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, and even skilled nursing. It may involve helping the elderly with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating, or it may include assistance with cooking, cleaning, other housekeeping jobs, and monitoring one’s daily regimen of prescription and over-the-counter medications. At this point, it is important to understand the difference between home health care and home care services. Although they sound the same (and home health care may include some home care services), home health care is more medically oriented. While home care typically includes chore and housecleaning services, home health care usually involves helping seniors recover from an illness or injury(Eldercare.gov, 2012). That is why the people who provide home health care are often licensed practical nurses, therapists, or home health aides. Most work for home health agencies, hospitals, or public health departments that are licensed by the state. When purchasing home health care directly from an individual provider (instead of through an agency), it is even more important to screen the person thoroughly. This...

Words: 2368 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Concepts Analysis Paper

...Concepts Analysis Paper Demis Rey BSN Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Kaplan University March 10, 2014 The concept of Quality has a close relation with nursing practices. Higher quality healthcare is the common goal of all healthcare team and improving healthcare quality has become the common focal point of all healthcare organization. Quality has become an important issue for healthcare facilities facing a changing of healthcare environment (Tsai, & Wu, 2013). Quality is derived from the Latin “quails” and is defined as essential character of nature…an inherent or distinguishable attribute or property, a character “trait” and is defined as superiority of kind and degree or grade of excellent (Wicks, & Roethlein, 2009). Every quality expert defines quality somewhat differentially, and there are a variety of perspectives than can be taken in defining quality. The most widely concept of quality is the Industrial Organization Society (IOS) definition as “the degree to wish a set of inherent characteristics fulfill requirements” (Wicks, & Roethlein, 2009, p. 85). The psychological concept is closely aligned with the dictionary definition when quality relates to logic: “quality is the positive or negative character of a proposition” (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2014). Quality is a set of characteristics or properties, as supported by the multidimensional definitions of quality. Quality can focus on excellence or can be viewed as the degree of a...

Words: 2863 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity & Diversity

...demand on healthcare professionals. Changes in healthcare have popularized empirical and evidence-based research in the field of nursing research (Hung, Chang,Chen, 2010) New roles that are emerging are tele-conferencing, providing nursing care over the phone triage style nurses need to be effective leaders and managers to meet the new challenges, advocate for policies that contribute to the health of populations, to sustainable development, and to the security and just treatment of nurses and health care professionals (NSNA,2011). Health care evolving at a fast rate and as provider’s nurses will need to adapt by meeting the needs and demands of individuals. The elderly are increasing and have been at a steady rate, and we need the professionals to be available to take care of the elder generation. The acuity on my floor are seeing more and more elderly’s coming in with stroke and fractures. Hung, H., Wang, H., Chang, Y., & Chen, C. (2010). [Nursing knowledge: the evolution of scientific philosophies and paradigm trends]. Hu Li Za Zhi The Journal Of Nursing, 57(1), 64-70. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. NSNA (2011) Meeting Today’s Global Health Care Challenges retrieved from http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/Imprint_Feb04_Hancock.pdf patterns of health events in populations characterizes health outcomes in terms of what, who, where, when, and why: What is the outcome? Who is affected? Where are they? When do events occur? This focus of epidemiology is called descriptive...

Words: 3817 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Nursing Research Utilization Project Proposal

...J Nurs Care Qual Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 6–12 Copyright c 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Missed Nursing Care, Staffing, and Patient Falls Beatrice J. Kalisch, PhD, RN, FAAN; Dana Tschannen, PhD, RN; Kyung Hee Lee, MPH, RN Patient falls in hospitals continue to be a major and costly problem. This study tested the mediating effect of missed nursing care on the relationship of staffing levels (hours per patient day [HPPD]) and patient falls. The sample was 124 patient units in 11 hospitals. The HPPD was negatively associated with patient falls (r = − 0.36, P < .01), and missed nursing care was found to mediate the relationship between HPPD and patient falls. Key words: falls, missed nursing care, staffing P to 12% of hospitalized patients experience at least 1 fall during their hospital stay.1 A fall is defined as any event in which patients are found on the floor (observed or unobserved) or an unplanned lowering of the patient to the floor by staff or visitors.2 In 2008, and 2010, falls were identified as one of the top 10 sentinel event categories by the Joint Commission.3 Fall rates in hospitals range from 4 to 14 falls per 1000 patient days.4 With the adoption of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid rule, which no longer reimburses hospitals at the higher diagnosis related group for the care and treatment associated with patient falls that occur during hospitalization, a clearer understanding of what factors U Author Affiliations: School of Nursing...

Words: 4232 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

You Have Been Asked to Investigate a New Procedure That Physicians Would Like Nurses to Adopt in the Hospital. Discuss the Process You Would Apply to Determine Whether the Procedure Falls Within the Rn Scope of Practice

...Edition Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice Second Edition [pic] American Nurses Association Silver Spring, Maryland 2010 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a national professional association. This ANA publication ( Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice) reflects the thinking of the nursing profession on various issues and should be reviewed in conjunction with state board of nursing policies and practices. State law, rules, and regulations govern the practice of nursing, while Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice guides nurses in the application of their professional skills and responsibilities. Published by Nursesbooks.org The Publishing Program of ANA http://www.Nursesbooks.org/ American Nurses Association 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492 1-800-274-4ANA http://www.NursingWorld.org Design: Typesetting: Printing: Editorial services: © 2010 American Nurses Association. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Contents Contributors Overview of Content Foundational Documents of Professional Nursing Audience for This Publication Scope of Nursing Practice Definition of Nursing Professional...

Words: 15841 - Pages: 64