Santa Casa trains for the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries in hospitalized patients
The institution promotes training aimed at nurses and nursing technicians who work in the care of hospitalized patients
Avoiding that patients who stay in bed for long periods during hospitalization develop wounds, technically called pressure injuries or PIs; treating them properly so that recovery is as quick as possible in cases where prevention was not possible; and ensuring the best dressing for patients in the hospital's reference areas, such as victims of scalping and newborns with malformations like spina bifida and omphalocele, which require care for wounds and skin.
To ensure that these two objectives are achieved, training is being conducted at Santa Casa aimed at nurses and nursing technicians who work in the care of hospitalized patients. Held in the institution's Realistic Simulation Laboratory, the training has already trained around 200 nurses, nursing technicians, and pharmacists in the first phase for prevention and continues to this day with the care stage, which involves guidance on the use of available materials in the hospital and training on care that ranges from position changes and dressings to the removal of dead tissue, among others.
"At the beginning of June, we held two days of training on techniques for preventing pressure injuries because it is better to prevent, ensuring a quicker return home for the patient, a faster release of the bed for another patient in need, and a reduction in costs for the hospital. But since this prevention is not always possible, we are now training for treatment, as Santa Casa has a standard of hospital material of excellent quality, and we need our professionals to know how to use them in the best way," explains nurse Socorro Ruivo from the Prevention and Treatment of Injury Committee.
In addition to training for the prevention and treatment of PIs, the training reinforces the importance of nursing professionals documenting all procedures aimed at prevention from the admission of patients.
For nurse Elana Braga, who has been working in the Surgical Center of Santa Casa for two years, continuing education within nursing is important for professionals to broaden their perspective on patient care.
"Being aware of technologies, especially being attentive to new technologies so that we can provide the best care for our patients. Today, Santa Casa has a gold standard for wound coverage and treatment. So, in fact, we really need to have knowledge of the technologies to use them in the best way in caring for our patients," she states.
The prevention of pressure injuries in bedridden or mobility-reduced patients is part of the Required Organizational Practices (ROPs), which are a set of guidelines and procedures that promote quality care and patient safety in healthcare environments.
