Date
4-26-2024
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Chair
Cynthia Goodrich
Keywords
pressure injuries, intensive care unit, patient repositioning, monitoring system
Disciplines
Nursing
Recommended Citation
Gideon, Michelle, "Embracing Technology to Optimize Patient Repositioning" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5484.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5484
Abstract
An evidence-based quality improvement approach was used for this project. The aim of the project was to examine the effect of the use of a patient monitoring system on the rate of change in pre-existing pressure injuries; for those that spend time in the intensive care unit (ICU). A patient monitoring system can provide real-time feedback on the frequency and angle of a patient’s repositioning. Additionally, the project looked at the ability of such a system to generate reports on staff compliance with patient repositioning. Data were collected for 8 weeks prior to implementation and 8 weeks after implementation of a patient monitoring system. The data included the surface area of any pre-existing pressure injuries that were recorded during admission assessment into the ICU and measurement taken at time of discharge. The difference was calculated and there was no statistically significant change, however the project data was found to have clinical relevance. The ability to provide real-time feedback on repositioning and generate compliance reports was clinically relevant. Pressure injuries continue to be a detriment to the health care system and patients that experience them. Further research that looks at the stages of pressure injuries, as well as anatomical locations, may be helpful to provide more insight into patients that are admitted with pre-existing pressure injuries.
