Development of a Nursing Care Bundle to Prevent Pressure Injuries and Its Impact on Rates and Costs

Development of Nursing Care Bundle for the Prevention of Pressure Injuries, the Impact on the Rate and Cost of Pressure Injuries

Pressure injuries (PIs) represent a significant clinical complication for patients worldwide and pose financial and quality challenges for healthcare systems. These wounds, which are highly challenging to treat and care for both patients and caregivers, lead to physical and psychological trauma, negatively affect daily life activities, reduce quality of life, and increase care costs (Padula et al., 2019; Yilmazer & Tüzer, 2022). Moreover, the expenses associated with treatment are 2.5 times higher than those for prevention (Lyder & Ayello, 2007). Additionally, they often prolong hospital stays and increase the time nurses spend on care (Yilmazer & Tüzer, 2022).

According to the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP, 2019), providing high-quality care for patients with PIs requires adopting a multidisciplinary, standardized care approach tailored to the specific needs of patients (Heasler, 2019). Past and current literature supports the use of evidence-based care bundles to reduce PIs (Coyer et al., 2015; Chaboyer et al., 2015; Amr et al., 2017; Deakin et al., 2020; Yilmazer & Tüzer, 2022; Wang et al., 2023). A care bundle is a critical element for standardizing and enhancing the quality of nursing care through the utilization of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines by healthcare professionals. Therefore, adopting these evidence-based approaches will improve the consistency and quality of nursing care, enhance patient outcomes, and reduce institutional costs. Moreover, the use of care bundles during interventions promotes teamwork and collaboration while supporting the development of a common language (Anderson et al., 2015; Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2021).

This study aims to reduce PIs, enhance the quality of patient care, lower healthcare costs, and improve overall patient outcomes through the development and implementation of a nursing care bundle based on evidence in the literature. The widespread use of the care bundle, grounded in achieved outcomes, will contribute to the prevention of PIs. Additionally, it will serve as a supportive tool for nurses to improve the quality of care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being 18 years of age or older
• Patients who fall into all risk categories assessed by the Braden scale
• Not having developed a pressure injury anywhere on their body
• Expectation of a minimum of 24 hours or more in the intensive care unit

Exclusion Criteria:

• Being 18 years of age or younger
• Having and developing a pressure injury anywhere on their body
• Expectation of a less than 24-hour stay in the intensive care unit