Pressure Ulcer Management among Nursing Staff in a Tertiary Care Government Teaching Hospital, Lucknow, India

Abstract

: Background : Effective pressure ulcer management depends on consistent translation of recommended preventive and management measures into bedside nursing practice. A study was conducted to describe the observed practice of nursing staff regarding pressure ulcer management in a tertiary care government teaching hospital in Lucknow, India. Method: A total of 384 staff nurses were assessed in Shatabdi Phase I and Phase II hospital of King George’s Medical University. Practice was assessed through a structured nine - item observational checklist covering skin assessment and staging, repositioning, skin care, skin protection, pressure redistribution, debridement and dressing, and nutritional practices. Result: The overall practice score reported was 57.8%. The highest achievement was observed for debridement and application of a suitable dressing (85%), followed by use of decompression/pressure redistribution devices (66%) and keeping the skin clean and dry (63%). Repositioning every two hours was achieved by 59%, use of skin protectant by 58%, and proper skin assessment with a pressure injury staging assessment tool by 57%. Lower achievement was observed for use of pH-balanced cleansing liquid (46%), provision of individualized nutritional guidance (45%), and regular monitoring of nutritional indicators (42%). Conclusion: The observational findings demonstrate variability in pressure ulcer management practices, with comparatively stronger performance in wound management and pressure redistribution and weaker performance in skin-care and nutritional components.