{"title":"A Skin Team Approach to Decrease Pressure Injuries in a Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative.","authors":"Aysa Arenas, Stephanie Sheldrick, Sarah Sutton, Jacqueline Gonzales, Valentina Obreja, Katrine Murray, Taline Marcarian","doi":"10.1097/WON.0000000000001269","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The primary purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to evaluate the effect of a nurse-led skin team (ST) interventions on prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) of stage 2 and above in our cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU).</p><p><strong>Participants and setting: </strong>Data analysis is based on patients receiving care in our CTICU from 2011 to 2024. The unit is located in the Western US (Los Angeles, CA).</p><p><strong>Approach: </strong>A nurse-led ST was established in 2011 to empower and engage clinical nurses in addressing the rising incidence of HAPIs in the CTICU. The team employed the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework to implement both evidence-based and innovative interventions. Project strategies included rounding, monitoring, and educating staff on best practices for pressure injury prevention.</p><p><strong>Outcomes: </strong>More than a decade after the team's formation, trend analysis did not demonstrate a significant downward trend in stage 2 and higher HAP prevalence. Nevertheless, our HPAI rates have consistently been below national benchmarks.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>The ST approach has proved effective in sustaining a reduction of HAPIs within our facility. The team's interventions remain ongoing, supported by facility leadership and continued commitment to quality care.</p>","PeriodicalId":520700,"journal":{"name":"Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society","volume":"53 2","pages":"102-107"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000001269","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/2/27 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: The primary purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to evaluate the effect of a nurse-led skin team (ST) interventions on prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) of stage 2 and above in our cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU).
Participants and setting: Data analysis is based on patients receiving care in our CTICU from 2011 to 2024. The unit is located in the Western US (Los Angeles, CA).
Approach: A nurse-led ST was established in 2011 to empower and engage clinical nurses in addressing the rising incidence of HAPIs in the CTICU. The team employed the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework to implement both evidence-based and innovative interventions. Project strategies included rounding, monitoring, and educating staff on best practices for pressure injury prevention.
Outcomes: More than a decade after the team's formation, trend analysis did not demonstrate a significant downward trend in stage 2 and higher HAP prevalence. Nevertheless, our HPAI rates have consistently been below national benchmarks.
Implications for practice: The ST approach has proved effective in sustaining a reduction of HAPIs within our facility. The team's interventions remain ongoing, supported by facility leadership and continued commitment to quality care.