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Protecting The Skin Of Older Adults Through Surveillance And Pressure Ulcer Prevention Beginning In Emergency Services, Jennifer L. Zoeteman

Doctoral Dissertations

ED (emergency department) personnel are admitting to inpatient services increasing numbers of elderly clients who are at risk for skin breakdown. The ED environment is designed for short term care in response to emergent situations. Pressure related injuries originating in the ED lead to both physical suffering and financial burdens. Pressure relief strategies have been actively employed on an inpatient basis without translation to the ED environment. Evidence for best practice in PUP (pressure ulcer prevention) in the ED is not widely embraced. Prevention of PUs is primarily within the scope of nursing practice and amenable to improvements in the …