World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day (WWPIPD) is celebrated on 16 November 2023.
WWPIPD aims to increase awareness and educate the public and healthcare professionals about preventing pressure injuries.
What is a pressure injury?
A pressure injury is a ‘localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear and/or friction’.
Most Pressure Injuries are preventable through comprehensive risk assessment, skin care, and patient-specific prevention strategies.
How can we work to prevent pressure injuries?
The acronym SSKIN can assist in remembering important factors for pressure injury prevention. SSKIN can also be used to improve assessment and care planning for consumers at risk of pressure injuries:
- S – Ensure surfaces are appropriate for the patient.
- S – A comprehensive skin assessment is completed on admission and daily.
- K – Encourage patients through kinetics, to keep moving, and perform changes in position and device position every 2 hours.
- I – Assess skin for moisture and keeping it clean and dry from incontinence.
- N – Complete the nutrition risk screening tool, regular weights, and ensure patients have the right diet and plenty of fluids.
How do we stage pressure injuries?
The incorrect staging of Pressure Injuries can have repercussions on patient outcomes.
The Apple Staging Guide from Medline uses the analogy of apples to pressure injuries, to aid in pressure injury staging. Check out the video below to see the Apple Staging Guide in action.
Save the date for WWPIPD 2023
Clinical Practice Review Forum
Discover insights and learnings at the upcoming Clinical Practice Review Forum, as we delve into a real-life case study involving a Monash Health patient who developed a complex pressure injury. This forum will provide you with the opportunity to engage with wound specialists, share experiences, and gain valuable perspectives on effective prevention and management strategies.
- Join at Kingston Centre, Room E, 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm, 27 November 2023
- Join online, 2:20 pm to 3:15 pm, 28 November 2023
National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) Resources
The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP), based in the US, has a number of resources and events to aid pressure injury prevention, which you can find on their website.
Further information
To find out more about pressure injury prevention or management at Monash Health, you can contact your ward podiatrist, wound clinical nurse consultant, or visit the Skin Integrity intranet page containing:
- Links to relevant Monash Health policies, procedures and clinical guidelines
- NSQHS Pressure Injury training
- Staging lanyards
- Pressure injury toolbox for clinicians
Air Mattresses
Air mattresses are a useful tool in offloading pressure areas and preventing pressure injuries in our high-risk patients. Online resources about air mattresses are available on the Arjo website.
Approved by Adjunct Professor Katrina Nankervis, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery