What is it about?
Pressure ulcers (PUs) are caused by tissue damage when the blood supply to an area of skin is diminished as a result of pressure. Despite that most pressure ulcers are preventable all patients are at risk. Nurses have a central role in prevention and management of pressure areas. This article gives a 'how to' guide in the management of pressure areas in clinical practice.
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Why is it important?
Pressure area care is an essential component of nursing practice with all patients potentially at risk of developing a pressure ulcer (NICE, 2014). Pressure ulcers (PU) are quite often preventable and caused by tissue damage from an impaired blood supply to an area of skin as a result of significant pressure (NICE, 2014). They have become a worldwide concern for health professionals with the cost burden of managing PU’s and associated complications in excess of 2.1 billion annually (Dealey, Posnett and Walker, 2012). The clinical interventions for PU prevention include holistic assessment, risk assessments and preventative measures (NICE, 2014).
Perspectives
I hope this article helps nurses to think about pressure area care for all patients and the best ways to manage this.
Aby Mitchell
University of West London
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Adult pressure area care: preventing pressure ulcers, British Journal of Nursing, October 2018, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2018.27.18.1050.
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