Human Resource and Organisational Development. The first assignment consists of 2 parts. The first part is Description of Learning Event and the second Part is Critical Evaluation of Learning Event. So I have got the assignment from my friend and I need you to make a comprehensive paraphrase for the two parts. Also I need you to use another references where possible in part 2. Additional file
Critical
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Identifying a problem
Introduction
Each day around the globe, there is a soaring number of individuals that often demand various responsive services as measures to counter various medical conditions that often require prompt and radical responses. These may include acute exacerbation of chronic illness, and pressure ulcers among others (Goodman, Schindler, & Washington, 2014).
Description of the problem
Pressure ulcer (PU) is a localized injury to the skin and underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, friction and shear, and sometimes combination of all (Glasgow, et al., 2014). The development of pressure ulcerdepends on various factors, such as age, mobility status, length of stay in the health care facility, continence, initial skin state and other medical conditions. For instance, an elderly incontinent person with limited mobility is more likely to develop a pressure ulcer.
Moreover, based on the study held in Germany in 2009findings suggest that immobile patients in hospitals have a higher probability to develop pressure ulcers than immobile residents in nursing home.(Kottner et al., 2010). Hence, it is important to determine why the patients with limited mobility are at higher risk of developing pressure ulcer in acute care settings rather than long-term care facilities. Furthermore, it is vital to find the best approach in preventing and/or avoiding pressure ulcer development in these population.
Impact of the problem in the work environment, quality of care and patient outcome
Patients tend to develop PU within the first week of hospital admission (Barton, 2009).Patients in acute care settings have a higher risk of developing pressure ulcer as compared to patients in long term care facilities. One of the reasons can be the prioritization of tasks. According to Newham & Hudgell (2015) in intensive care units (ICUs) stabilizing patient medically, administering medications, and monitoring vital-signs come before repositioning patients.
Different factors facilitate in increasing the risk of developing pressure ulcers.The risk of the patient to develop PU also increases with the time spent in the hospital especially those in the intensive care unit.Patients using respiratory equipment, sequential compression devices and urinary catheters among others are at higher risk of developing PU as they limit the ability to reposition them frequently. Mechanical ventilation also increases the risk of developing Pressure Ulcers in patients. Pressure ulcers secondary to medical devices present a significant health burden (Glasgow, et al., 2014).
In addition, according to Goodman, Schindler, Washington, Bogie and Ho (2014), pressure ulcer is very common in patients with spinal injuries leading to repeat hospitalization. The duration of injury plays a significant role in increasing the risk of developing Pressure Ulcer in patients. The heel, sacrum and ears are the most vulnerable parts to develop Pressure Ulcer (Cooper, 2013).
Proposed Solution
Pressure ulcers are most of the time avoidable or preventable. In order to implement pressureulcer prevention in patients with limited mobility, thorough initial assessment is imperative. Nurses, who spend the most time at the patients bedside, must identify the risk factors for each individual and adopt the most appropriate method of preventing pressure ulcer development. The clinical judgment of the nurses is considered to be very important in the assessment of the risk of developing PU (Balzer, et al., 2014).
Different units take different measures in the assessment and prevention of development of pressure ulcers in patients. According to Sving, Idvall, Högberg, and Gunningberg (2014), nurses in some hospitals concentrate on helping patients recover quickly and pay little or no attention to the pressure ulcers. Nurses need to have adequate awareness about the pressure ulcers for them to provide the most appropriate care to the patients.
