Under Pressure

Project Topic:

Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI)

Hospital Unit:

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

CSI Participants:

• Felicia McKinney, MSN, RN
• Elizabeth Steele, BSN, RN
• Catherine Burns, BSN, RN, Coach
• Mary Seehausen-Newton BS, RN, CCRN, Education

Project Goals/Objectives:

1. Reduce Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPIs) in ICU 50%
2. Increase staff knowledge of HAPI prevention

Project Outcomes:

1. 86% reduction of HAPI in ICU for 3-month period
2. Increased staff knowledge of HAPI prevention
3. Increased staff participation in HAPI reducing interventions
4. Increased awareness of HAPI incidence in the ICU and the financial implications

Project Overview:

The incidence of hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) in the ICU area was increasing. In 2019 there were 17 reported HAPI, and in 2020 there were 23 reported occurrences for the same time period. The CSI team created a plan to assess the nurses’ knowledge about skin care and implement interventions to prevent HAPI.

The nurses completed an online education module to improve their knowledge. The CSI team also surveyed the nurses in the ICU to assess their perception of the problem and their ability to make patient care decisions.

Throughout the project there were many staffing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite many challenges throughout the project, the intervention had a positive outcome. The nurses are using the required skin assessment tool and there is a decreased incidence of HAPI since June 2021.