The nutritional assessment is a systematic process of obtaining, verifying, and interpreting data in order to make decisions about obese or malnourished patients. It is an ongoing process that involves data collection followed by continued reassessment and analysis of the patient’s status compared with specific criteria. The patients’ BMI, score, risk which is based on low, medium and high. The loss of subcutaneous fat, muscle waste is used as evidence of malnutrition and also a dull, dry sparse hair can signify a possible protein energy deficiency. The elderly is particularly prone to wounds caused by dehydration. Gandy (2014) highlights four main causes of malnutrition as altered nutrients intake, impaired digestion or absorption and …show more content…
Barkley and Sherman (2013) indicated that protein energy malnutrition can prevent or prolong wound healing. However, studies have shown that up to 93% of malnourished people are living in the community and this continues to be a major clinical and public wound healing problem in the UK (Elia and Russell, 2009). Poor nutrition impacts on both the obese as well as the underweight patients. Over 34% of patients in the UK were found to be at risk of malnourishment in 2010 higher than the prevalence in 2008 (BAPEN) (2010). This is an indication that the population of people who are at potential risk of poor wound healing continue to increase. Nutritional factors thought to contribute to skin breakdown due to protein deficiency. The skin breakdown creates a negative nitrogen balance; anaemia, inhibits the formation of red blood cells; and dehydration, which causes dry, fragile skin. Nutrition plays a role in the prevention and treatment of wounds (Thompson and Furhrman, 2005). Horns et al, 2004 emphasize on fluids adequacy to maintain good skin tone and blood flow to tissues to prevent its breakdown (Horns et al, 2004). However, immune function declines with age, increasing the risk of infections and decreasing skin response to temperature, …show more content…
Drugs may either inhibit or induce metabolism of nutrients for wound healing. Medicines designed to calm and reduce agitation may reduce mobility, activity levels and circulation with potential wound formation. Antibiotics often cause nausea and gastric disturbances that curtail a patient’s food and fluid intake (Templeton, 2005). This can contribute to prolonged wound healing. When wound develops, the stage of healing entails correct quantity of nutrients to promote speedy healing (Thompson and Furham, 2005). Posthauer and Thomas (2012) seems to agree with Thompson and Furham (2005) that a hydrated person with a BMI greater than 30 is considered obese and complicate wound
A Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was completed on Anne. The MNA is a tool used to provide a rapid assessment of elderly patients’ nutritional status. The MNA is made up of simple measurements and a few brief questions that can be completed by the patient in no more than ten minutes. The nutritional status of a patient is evaluated using a two-step process to accurately determine a patient’s nutritional status (McGee
Mayo Clinic Staff. "Caregivers." Senior Health: How to Prevent and Detect Malnutrition. N.p., 23 Sept. 2011. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
Using the Skin Safety Model (SSM), prevention of pressure ulcers can be shifted to a more holistic patient-centered approach. The SSM comprises of four sections, potential contributing factors to skin injury, exacerbating elements, potential skin injury, and potential outcomes of skin injury. Each section then has subcategories of determinants that can change depending on the patient’s specific circumstance. The SSM helps the caregiver look at the patient as a whole and incorporate all of the patient’s risk factors that could potentially lead to impaired skin integrity or pressure ulcers (Campbell, Coyer, & Osborne,
A pressure ulcer is an area of skin with unrelieved pressure resulting in ischemia, cell death, and necrotic tissue. The constant external pressure or rubbing that exceeds the arterial capillary pressure (32mmHg) and impairs local normal blood flow to tissue for an extended period of time, results in pressure ulcer (Smeltzer et. Al., 2013). According to National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, 2014, pressure ulcers are a major burden to the society, as it approaches $11billion annually, with a cost range from $500 to $70,000 per individual pressure ulcer. It is a significant healthcare problem despite considerable investment in education, training, and prevention equipment. This paper includes two different studies to link cause-effect
For instance, there have been several nutritional interventions implemented in health care facilities. Specifically, screening can be effective in health care facilities to aid in identifying poor nutrition among the elderly, which is often undetected. Additionally, screening tools has been used to establish appropriate nutritional meals. One study by researchers Babineau, Jolyne, Villalon, Laporte, Manon, & Payette (2008) showed that the introduction of screening in a general hospital raised awareness of nutrition-related care. In this intervention dietitians conducts a full nutritional assessment and implemented a nutritional care plan for patients aged 65 or older (Babineau et al., 2008). The nutrition care program included nutritional screening, timely intervention, and close dietitian
Belvoir Media Group (2010) realised an article claiming that although pressure on the skin is the focal cause of decubitus ulcers, other factors frequently fund this problem. These factors include; shearing and friction causing the skin to stretch and blood vessels to curve which results in impair blood circulation, Moisture, circulatory problems, age, and people with poor nutrition. It further claims that ulcers can be categorised in different stages (stage 1; being the initial stage, and stage 4; being the most severe), and treatments for ulcers include distinct dressings to be applied to promote healing. Cooper (2013) likewise clarifies that many different factors contributing to the progress of ulcers in supplement to pressure such as moisture, shear and friction. She additionally goes on to say that hydrocolloid dressings do not relieve pressure, nonetheless do reduce friction and shearing of the wound.
MUST is a five-step screening tool designed for healthcare professionals to identify adult patients who at risk of, or are malnourished. It includes guidelines on how to develop an effective treatment plan. The Malnutrition Advisory Group (MAG) in 2000 adapted and extended their community screening tool to include care homes and hospitals, in response to national concerns. (Department of Health, 2001). In 2003 MUST was designed by MAG and the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN). It was piloted across many care settings, to target patients who may be at risk of malnutrition.
Including foods that can help with the healing process and take those that are not needed.
For the process of formulating a PICO question I have narrowed down to five questions pertaining to the factors in the development of pressure ulcers. The first question is what role does the environment play i...
A wound is an injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact, typically one in which the skin is cut or broken. The skin is the body’s largest organ, making up 15% of the human body. It is responsible for temperature and protection of the body from various external influences. Wound healing is the normal body response to injury, either surgical or traumatic, causing disruption of the integrity of tissues. Surgical wounds are classified according to their degree of microbiology (2014 Advanced Tissues).
Rationale: These laboratory test results have been shown to be fair indicators of malnutrition. Ackley and Ladwig p. 576
...s expressed by most treating physicians if best treatment is not possible. Most of those wound are sadly sent to a community nurse for dressing change without the patient coming back to the treating physician for assessment of "maintenance wound" treatment.
The normal wound healing process mainly consists of four main stages being haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation or new tissue formation, and tissue remodeling or resolution. For a wound to heal well the above mentioned stages should occur in a sequential and orderly manner. Disturbances, abnormalities and delays in any of the above stages may lead to impaired healing or even chronic wounds. In adults, this process of normal healing takes place in the following steps (1)rapid haemostasis (2)appropriate inflammation (3)mesenchymal cell differentiation, proliferation, and migration to the wound site (4)suitable angiogenesis (5)prompt re-epithelialization and (6) proper synthesis, cross-linking, and alignment of collagen to provide strength to the healing tissue.
Since we have been learning about nutrition in class, our task was to record a food log. Nutrition requires a well-balanced diet containing nutrient and vitamins like amino acids and fatty acids. Over the past seven days I have been recording and have been looking very carefully at my intake of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and fats. In our task, the objective was to record the basic foods we ate during the period of seven, but it did not require recording every single detail or our intake of food. Doing this food log was a pain and it was disturbing because I never wrote about what I ate like breakfast, lunch, dinner, or additional meals. I found this food log useful because it helped me learn what I can change in my intake of foods to make my diet healthy and to see what about my diet is affecting me from being healthy because I could affect me in the future.
Postlethwait, John H., and Janet L. Hopson. "Body Function and Nutrition." Modern Biology. Orlando: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2006. Print.