Pressure ulcer has caused thousands of death in Australia every year. It is very common in elderly people due to poor nutrition intake, fragile skin, reduce in mobility and other illnesses. Sally – an 82 year old resident has been under affected of diabetes for years and recently developed her leg ulcer. Leg ulcer is a serious health problem which causes Sally lot of pain and decreases her quality of life. Pressure ulcer develops when underlying skin tissues are damaged constantly by friction and shearing. Pressure injuries can be very difficult to cure and can lead to some serious complications. Due to her leg ulcer, Sally could no longer join her regular activities or associate with the community. Sally could barely move or leave the house …show more content…
Wellness implies to Sally holistically; the program does not focus only on her illness but every aspects of her life. In order to be healthy, Sally need to change her lifestyle such as have a balanced diet with necessary nutrition, keep a positive mind and receive support from people around. The program is designed for Sally so at the end she can enjoy a healthy and happy life and understand more about the disease. Diabetes has been one of the most challenging problems for public health worldwide and in Australia. It is described as a “life-time disease” and there is currently no cure. There are two main types of diabetes; type 2 diabetes is the most common form (85-90% of the diabetics). Type 2 diabetes occurs when body tissues cannot absorb insulin and glucose built up in the blood stream which causes the blood glucose levels to rise. Eventually, pancreas will work harder to product more insulin; they then become tired and died. This makes it harder to control the level of glucose. By 2011, nearly 1 million Australians have been diagnosed with diabetes (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2011). People with diabetes are more likely to suffer other diseases with their heart, kidneys and eyes. As a result, diabetes is ranked in the top 10 causing of death in Australia (AIHW National Mortality Database,
Risk assessment scales have been in situ for over 50 years within the adult sector. These scales consist of several categories, which are thought to be associated with the potential occurrence of a pressure ulcer. Factors such as mobility and incontinence etc. are considered. Each category of the assessment is added up to give a total. The score then suggests whether a patient is at low, medium or high risk of developing a pressure ulcer. Higher-risk patients are therefore more susceptible to develop pressure ulcers and interventions are implemented such as, Air mattresses or nutritional support which is hoped to reduce the occurrence of pressure
...ssure ulcers can be preventable if there is a systemic and multi-professional approach to their prevention and continuing assessment of skin integrity. Mary was determined and worked well with the physiotherapist; she was up and on her feet within a week of returning. Staff had to prompt her to move around the ward, which at times was hard for her due to her anxiety. Mary was deemed high risk for falls, so was put on a prevention of falls chart in conjunction with the pressure area chart and repositioning chart.
Diabetes UK is a growing community that has over 300,000 supporters around the nation involving people diagnosed with diabetes, as well as their friends and families whom are affected by the condition. Collaborating with as many as 5,500 volunteers and 315 voluntary groups they raise awareness and funds, as well as campaign for change and support. Diabetes UK has a professional membership of over 6,000 healthcare providers from various clinical backgrounds. Members of the organization are professionals in the field of diabetes care, treatment and research. They use their expertise to collect the evidence base for strategies that help those affected by diabetes and educate their campaigns for helpful services.
Wang, Z., Hoy, W. E., & Si, D. (2010). Incidence of type 2 diabetes in aboriginal australians: An 11-year prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 487-487. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-487
Every year, one point five million Americans are diagnosed. Diabetes remains the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2015. 79,535 death certificates listed it as the underlying cause of death, and a total of 252,806 death certificates listed diabetes as an underlying or contributing cause of death in 2015. The total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2012 was two-hundred and forty-five billion (Statistics About
Diabetes is a disease in which a person’s body in unable to make or utilize insulin properly which affects blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas, which helps to regulate glucose (sugar) levels, break down carbohydrates and fats, and is essential to produce the body’s energy. The CDC (2013) offers reliable insight, summarized here, into the different types of diabetes, some causes, and health complications that may arise from the disease.
Necrotizing Fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria ) from an essay by Katrina Tram Duong, edited by S.N. Carson M.D.
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Diabetes falls into two main categories: type 1, or juvenile diabetes, which usually occurs during childhood or adolescence, and type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, the most common form of the disease, usually occurring after age 40. Type 1 results from the body’s immune system attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The onset of juvenile diabetes is much higher in the winter than in the summer. This association has been repeatedly confirmed in diabetes research. Type 2 is characterized by “insulin resistance,” or an inability of the cells to use insulin, sometimes accompanied by a deficiency in insulin production. There is also sometimes a third type of diabetes considered. It is gestational diabetes, which occurs when the body is not able to properly use insulin during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes encompasses nine out of 10 diabetic cases. Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States, and it has no cure. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2002 was estimated to be $132 billion, or one out of every 10 health care dollars spent in the United States. Diabetes risk factors can fall into three major categories: family history, obesity, and impaired glucose tolerance. Minority groups and elderly are at the greatest risk of developing diabetes.
Maintenance of an appropriate healing environment is also essential throughout the management of diabetic foot ulcers. The choice of dressing is dependent on many factors including presence of infection, amount of exudate and the required frequency of wound bed inspection.
The Braden Scale demonstrated both sensitivity and specificity in risk assessment of pressure ulcer development (VandenBosch et al., 1996). In order to maximize the intervention, it is important that nursing personnel are thorough in skin assessment evaluation and can accurately identify and stage lesions. For future research, it is recommended that a consistent cut-off value be continually updated to determine at risk-hospitalized patients. As previously discussed, a current cut-off value of 18 is used which places patients in a mild risk category of the Braden Scale (Braden & Makleburst, 2005). In this health care practice area, the RN cannot overlook physical assessment. It is recommended that all future research include a proper skin assessment in accordance with hospital policy and procedure. While evidence shows that the Braden Scale is an effective risk assessment tool, it should not stand in for traditional nursing assessment, but rather be used as a tool to help determine at risk patients that are may be in need for further intervention. It is a recommendation that future research study also discuss surgical procedures in relation to the Braden Scale and possible pressure ulcer development. According to Schoonhoven et al. (2002), surgery is considered a risk factor
As an ICU nurse I constantly watch how patients develop pressure ulcers, a pressure ulcer is an area of skin that breaks down due to having constant friction and pressure, also from having limited movement and being in the same position over a prolonged period of time. Pressure Ulcers commonly occur in the buttocks, elbows, knees, back, shoulders, hips, heels, back of head, ankles and any other area with bony prominences. According to Cox, J. (2011) “Pressure ulcers are one of the most underrated conditions in critically ill patients. Despite the introduction of clinical practice guidelines and advances in medical technology, the prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients continues to escalate” (p. 364). Patients with critical conditions have many factors that affect their mobility and therefore predispose them to developing pressure ulcers. This issue is significant to the nursing practice because nurses are the main care givers of these patients and are the ones responsible for the prevention of pressure ulcers in patients. Nurses should be aware of the tools and resources available and know the different techniques in providing care for the prevention of such. The purpose of this paper is to identify possible research questions that relate to the development of pressure ulcers in ICU patients and in the end generate a research question using the PICO model. “The PICO framework and its variations were developed to answer health related questions” (Davies, K., 2011).
Thomas, D. R. (2001). Issues and dilemmas in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers: A
If one wants to live an enjoyable, fulfilling life they must know what it truly means to be well. Living a wellness lifestyle means incorporating all aspects of what it takes to flourish as a human being. It goes beyond the health of the physical body and incorporates the important social, emotional, and spiritual factors that play a part in every person’s life in one way or another. Knowing how to act correctly, control our feelings, channel our frustrations, and improve in each dimension of wellness will lead to a satisfactory life. Spiritual, physical, emotional, nutritional, and social wellness define the biggest components of life and thriving in them is vital.
“Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, esophagus, and small intestine as a result of an imbalance of hydrochloric acid and pepsin. These acidic digestive juices are secreted by the cells of the stomach. Named for where they are found, “peptic ulcers are a very common and often reoccurring health problem, and it is estimated that more than 20 million Americans will experience a peptic ulcer in their lifetime” (Cleveland).
According to the text, wellness is defined as an "integrated and dynamic level of functioning oriented toward maximizing potential, dependent on self-responsibility. " It involves both preventive health behaviors and a shift in thinking and attitude. Wellness is a lifelong promise to oneself of growth and achievement in each of the seven dimensions: emotional, spiritual, physical, occupational, intellectual, environmental, and social. It means a lifetime of ongoing change and always striving toward higher levels of healthy and successful living. This means, ultimately, that one must live a life that caters to each of those dimensions, both individually and collectively.