The goal of this study was to determine what registered nurses’ understanding of the prevention and treatment options for pressure ulcers currently is and do those registered nurses need additional education or training for prevention and treatment options of pressure ulcers. It can be determined from the literature review that two studies out of the ten presented were directly related to a registered nurse's understanding and retention of knowledge (Cox et al., 2011; Sving et al., 2012). This study consisted of 25 survey questions that assessed what 35 registered nurses from the North Carolina northeastern region currently know about prevention and treatment for pressure ulcers. This study used a small descriptive quantitative survey approach using PsychData software. The hypothesis was that registered nurses would report there is currently no annual training offered to them outside of their new hire orientation, that there are no requirements to have any additional training, and that there were no annual competency requirements. After analysis of the data, registered nurses reported they do not receive adequate education and training about pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. Forty-nine percent of registered nurses surveyed noted that they rarely receive continuing education about current wound care techniques while 60% of these registered nurses report that they are providing the wound care for patients.
The conclusion of this study indicates that registered nurses do not receive adequate training of pressure ulcer prevention and treatment and that nurses have identified a need. Sixty-eight percent of nurses reported they do not get training on pressure ulcer prevention or treatment options as well as there is a need for more education. Registered nurses across different practice areas care for patients with pressure ulcers, yet the nurses do not receive appropriate up-to-date education and training about how to care for their patients with pressure ulcers. Therefore, there is an identified need to continue research in the area of acute care as well as a suggested need for annual training of pressure ulcer prevention and treatment as this was where the majority of the sample size reported to practice nursing.
Keywords: pressure ulcers, lack of education, education, prevention
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