Segurança do paciente: práticas adotadas por enfermeiros na prevenção de lesão por pressão.

Abstract

Patient safety represents one of the six areas that reflect the quality of care. Called Adverse Events, errors resulting from failure in assistance can cause harm to health. Pressure injuries are represented as damage, being addressed as a prevention goal by the National Patient Safety Program. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the role of the nurse or nursing team in recognizing and adopting safe practices aimed at preventing pressure injuries in the hospital setting. Objective: To investigate the practices adopted by nurses to prevent pressure injuries, with an emphasis on the safety of hospitalized patients. Method: This research is part of a larger study, entitled “Adverse Events related to care practices with medications in the hospital environment: perception of nurses”, cross-sectional and with a quantitative approach. Data were collected between January and February 2024, on the premises of a teaching hospital in Campina Grande/PB. As collection instruments, the Professional Profile questionnaire and the Adverse Events Associated with Nursing Practices Scale were used. The data were organized and processed using SPSS software and analyzed using descriptive statistics. This study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee, under the Certificate of Presentation of Ethical Appreciation, number 75819623.1.0000.5182. Results: Given the established criteria, 133 nurses took part in the research. There was a predominance of female participants, married, mixed race, with specialization and two jobs. Measures aimed at preventing pressure injuries are often/always carried out or implemented, such as assessment of patient comorbidities, periodic inspection of the skin, use of risk scales, adjustment of repositioning and nutritional support, among others. However, the occurrence of pressure injuries is high, reported as frequent by 54.9% of those interviewed. From this perspective, nurses understand that the occurrence of these adverse events compromises patient safety and that it is possible to avoid them. Conclusion: The main practices covered in this study include measures essential to patient safety, such as regular repositioning, daily general inspection of areas affected by injuries and care regarding adequate water and nutritional intake. However, there are obstacles to its adhesion. A path to a solution leads to the professional's ongoing education in the care of patients at risk or affected by pressure injuries, allowing them to see beyond their illness.