Implementation of a Pressure Injury Prevention Protocol for Intensive Care Unit Patients Undergoing Prone Positioning

• DOI: 10.4037/ccn2023987
• Publication Date: 2023-10-01T00:02:07Z
• Authors: Kelly McFee; Julie M. Murdoch; Mandy Spitzer
• Keywords: Prone position

Pressure injuries remain the most common hospital-acquired condition, according to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are at especially high risk pressure injuries, including those related medical devices, because of their lower tissue tolerance, prolonged intubation, treatment prone positioning.The pandemic brought an increased incidence injury. A 350-bed hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri, recognized that intervention injury these patients was needed.A quality improvement project initiated reduce intensive care unit. protocol implemented undergoing positioning included use dressing packets. The during 1-year periods before after implementation were determined.Before new protocol, 18 155 unit who placed a position (11.6%) experienced or device-related injury, compared 3 111 (2.7%) implementation, reduction 76.7% (P = .008).The can be reduced additional education appropriate products protocols. All undergo positioning, regardless diagnosis, may benefit from prevention includes