Long-Term Care

Five reasons why pressure ulcers occur

LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer, April 7, 2004

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This week's tip is brought to you by Long-Term Care Nursing Advisor, the
new, FREE e-mail newsletter for nurses. It offers field-tested tips for
handling commonly encountered nursing home problems such as falls and
pressure ulcers. Go to http://www.hcmarketplace.com/free/emailnls/index.cfm?oc_id=2474&S=ELTCN and sign up for this FREE nursing resource today! Issue #1 discusses
staging pressure ulcers.

When working to prevent pressure ulcers in residents, CNAs should know why they occur. If staff are well informed about what causes pressure ulcers, they'll be more likely to catch a situation before it becomes dangerous for the resident. The five main reasons why pressure ulcers occur are:

- Poor nutritional status

- Immobility

- Incontinence

- Infections

- History of skin problems

Remind caregivers that the skin is an organ, and its condition can tell
them a lot about the general health of the person whom they are caring
for.



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