Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service III (Projects aiming at quality service to patients and their carers)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Staff Engagement and Empowerment (motivating staff / teamwork / work revamp tackling manpower issue / staff wellness / OSH / retention)
Authors (including presenting author) :
LAM KKA, CHENG WYB, LAM SK, HUI KY, CHAN CYN, TAN WY, CHAN KH, LAI CHE
Affiliation :
Department of Surgery
Introduction :
Pressure injury prevention is a fundamental aspect of nursing care in hospitals. Even advanced wound products are designed to remain intact for 3-7 days, but during nurse handovers, observations often become irregular. This irregularity leads to time-consuming processes and wastage of manpower. However, it is crucial to find cost-effective ways to effectively prevent pressure injuries in the long run.
Objectives :
Detect any early signs of pressure injury development by implementing a focus check.
Methodology :
Standardize the schedule for pressure injury rounds to take place every Tuesday and Friday. Ensure that all staff in the ward, including the Wound Specialist, Pressure Injury Link Nurse, Team Nurse, and Supporting Staff, focus on assessing the skin condition and observing for pressure injuries during the morning napkin change and sit-out rounds. During these rounds, all patients who are bedbound should be checked and changed the dressing or foam. Other standard preventive measures for pressure injuries, such as turning, bed mattresses, and pressure relief devices, should remain unchanged.
Result & Outcome :
From June 2023 to November 2023, the incidence of newly acquired pressure injuries decreased from 2.4% in 2022 (January to December) to 1.6% in 2023 (June to November). This represents an improvement of over 42% following the implementation of the new schedule. The healing rate upon patient discharge also increased from 38% in 2022 to 63% during the period of 2023. The duration of rounds on these two days was not extended, but on other days, the duration of the napkin rounds was shortened. The prevention of pressure injuries could contribute to improved staff satisfaction. 100% of the staff agreed that the new schedule can effectively prevent pressure injuries and found the frequency of twice per week to be suitable. Furthermore, all staff members are willing to share their experiences and knowledge with colleagues in other wards.
All staff in the ward, including supporting staff, can promptly report any instances and severity of pressure injuries. This proactive approach improves patient outcomes and enhances the quality of care provided, all while maintaining the ward routine. Nurses can then allocate their time and energy to other patient care tasks, leading to improved overall efficiency.
