Clinical Notes

Study finds less-invasive method for identifying osteomyelitis is effective

Researchers have found that using hybrid 67Ga single-photon emission computed tomography and X-ray computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging combined with a bedside percutaneous bone puncture in patients with a positive scan is “accurate and safe” for diagnosing osteomyelitis in patients with diabetes who have a foot ulcer without signs of soft-tissue infection.

The new method, which avoids an invasive bone biopsy, has a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 93.6%. In the study of 55 patients, antibiotic treatment was avoided in 55% of suspected cases.

“Diagnosing diabetic foot osteomyelitis in patients without signs of soft tissue infection by coupling hybrid 67Ga SPECT/CT with bedside percutaneous bone puncture,” published by Diabetes Care, followed patients for at least a year.

MRSA strains will likely continue to coexist in hospitals and communities

The strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) differ in the hospital and community settings, and both are likely to coexist in the future, according to a study in PLOS Pathogens.

“Hospital-community interactions foster coexistence between methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus” notes that previously it was thought that the more invasive community strains would become more prevalent (and even eliminate) hospital strains. This new information could have significant consequences for public health because of the differences in the resistance of the two strains.

C. difficile prevention actions fail to stop spread

Despite increasing activities to prevent the spread of Clostridium difficile, infection from C. difficile remains a problem in healthcare facilities, according to a survey of infection preventionists by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

The survey found that 70% of preventionists have adopted additional interventions in their healthcare facilities since March 2010, but only 42% have seen a decline in C. difficile infection rates; 43% saw no decline.

A total of 1,087 APIC members completed the survey in January 2013. The survey also found that more than 92% of respondents have increased emphasis on environmental cleaning and equipment decontamination practices, but 64% said they rely on observation, rather than more accurate and reliable monitoring technologies, to assess cleaning effectiveness.

In addition, 60% of respondents have antimicrobial stewardship programs at their facilities, compared with 52% in 2010. Such programs promote the appropriate use of antibiotics, which can help reduce the risk of C. difficile infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diarrhea caused by C. difficile is linked to 14,000 American deaths each year.

Mast cells may not play significant role in wound healing

“Evidence that mast cells are not required for healing of splinted cutaneous excisional wounds in mice,” published in PLOS One, analyzed wound healing in three types of genetically mast-deficient mice and found they reepithelialized their wounds at rates similar to control mice. At the time of closure, the researchers found that scars in all the mice groups were similar in both “quality of collagen deposition and maturity of collagen fibers.” The findings fail to support the previously held belief that mast cells are important in wound healing.

Study identifies effective casting for diabetes-related plantar foot ulcers

Nonremovable casts that relieve pressure are more effective than removable casts or dressings alone for the treatment of plantar foot ulcers caused by diabetes, according to an analysis of clinical trials.

The authors of “Pressure-relieving interventions for treating diabetic foot ulcers,” published by The Cochrane Library, reviewed 14 randomized clinical trials that included 709 participants. Nonremovable pressure-relieving casts were compared to dressings alone, temporary therapeutic shoes, removable pressure-relieving devices, and surgical lengthening of the Achilles tendon.

The study also notes that when combined with Achilles tendon lengthening, nonremovable devices were more successful in one forefoot ulcer study than the use of a nonremovable cast alone.

Most studies were from the United States (five) and Italy (five), with Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, and India each contributing one study.

Prescriber preference drives use of antibiotics in long-term care

“Prolonged antibiotic treatment in long-term care: Role of the prescriber,” published by JAMA Internal Medicine, found that the preferences of prescribers, rather than patient characteristics, drive antibiotic treatment.

The study of 66,901 patients from 630 long-term care facilities found that 77.8%
received a course of antibiotics. The most common length (41%) was 7 days, but the length exceeded 7 days in 44.9% of patients. Patient characteristics were similar among short-, average-, and long-duration prescribers.

The study authors conclude: “Future trials should evaluate antibiotic stewardship interventions targeting prescriber preferences to systematically shorten average treatment durations to reduce the complications, costs, and resistance associated with antibiotic overuse.”

Electrophysical therapy may be helpful for diabetic foot ulcers

“Electrophysical therapy for managing diabetic foot ulcers: A systematic review” concludes that electrophysical therapy is potentially beneficial because in each randomized clinical trial it outperformed the control or sham electrical stimulation.

The authors of the study in International Wound Journal reviewed eight trials with a combined total of 325 patients. Five studies were on electrical stimulation, two on phototherapy, and one on ultrasound. Because of the small number of trials, the possibility of harmful effects can’t be ruled out, and the authors recommend “high-quality trials with larger sample sizes.”

Significant geographic variations in spending, mortality exist for diabetic patients with foot ulcers and amputations

“Geographic variation in Medicare spending and mortality for diabetic patients with foot ulcers and amputations” reports healthcare spending and mortality rates vary “considerably” across the United States.

The study in Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications found that higher spending wasn’t associated with a significant reduction in 1-year patient mortality. In addition, rates of hospital admission were associated with higher per capita spending and higher mortality rates for patients.

Home-based exercise program improves life for lymphedema patients

An individualized, home-based progressive resistance exercise program improves upper-limb volume and circumference and quality of life in postmastectomy patients with lymphedema, according to a study published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development.

“Effect of home-based exercise program on lymphedema and quality of life in female postmastectomy patients: Pre-post intervention study” included 32 women who participated in an 8-week program. The women received education about the program and an initial training session from a physiotherapist. They practiced the exercise sequence and received a program and logbook once their performance was satisfactory. Patients were told to increase weight only when two sets of 15 repetitions became easy to perform.

By: Donna Sardina, RN, MHA, WCC, CWCMS, DWC, OMS

At some point, most of us have encountered a bully—most commonly when we were kids. You might think that as we get older, bullying wouldn’t be a problem we have to deal with. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. In the healthcare field, bullying can be even worse than it was when we were children.

Bullying in health care takes many different forms, including fighting among different types of clinicians, managers bullying subordinates, peer-to-peer bullying and, most commonly, specialists bullying other specialists. Years ago when I realized my dream of becoming a wound care specialist, I thought other specialists would be relieved I was on board to help with the overwhelming task of spreading wound care knowledge and healing wounds. But I found out quickly that I was pretty much alone with those thoughts, and my first encounter with wound care bullies occurred.

I began to ask myself: What did I do wrong? Why are they slamming me? What did I do to them? They don’t even know me; they’ve never even talked to me. This may sound familiar to many of you, whether you’re a wound care specialist, an ostomy specialist, or a diabetes or lymphedema specialist.

Workplace bullying is defined as repeated, unreasonable actions by individuals (or a group) directed toward an employee (or group of employees) that are intended to intimidate, degrade, humiliate, or undermine. Bullying occurs for many reasons; these reasons almost always include insecurity, competition, and the desire to feel more powerful and be in control.

So how do we deal with the bullies?
• Follow the Golden Rule: Treat others as you’d like others to treat you. Don’t stoop to the bully’s level.
• Stay calm and rational. Don’t get emotional. Bullies take pleasure in manipulating people emotionally.
• Don’t lose your confidence or blame yourself. Recognize that this isn’t about you; it’s about the bully. Be proud and confident in your certification credential.
• Focus on your purpose—to provide safe, competent, high-quality care to every patient.
• Document the bullying incident. Start a diary detailing the nature of the bullying, including dates, times, places, what was said or done, and who was present. Start a file with copies of anything in print that shows harassment and bullying; hold onto copies of documents that contradict the bully’s accusations against you.
• If the bullying behavior compromises patient safety and care, report the bully.

Stopping all bullying in health care may seem like an insurmountable goal, but I believe that together we can try to stop the bullying cycle in our specialty. By setting the example and supporting each other, we can turn the focus back to healing and caring for our patients as a team, not as one practitioner against the world.

Actions speak louder than words. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

Donna Sardina, RN, MHA, WCC, CWCMS, DWC, OMS
Editor-in-Chief
Wound Care Advisor
Cofounder, Wound Care Education Institute
Plainfield, Illinois

By Rosalyn Jordan, RN, BSN, MSc, CWOCN, WCC, and Marci Christian, BBE

Any patient with a fecal or urinary ostomy may experience complications on the skin surface around the stoma. These complications may occur lifelong, although they’re more common during the first 5 years after the initial ostomy surgery. Causative factors include infection, trauma, certain diseases, and chemical irritation; most of these problems stem from the pouching system or pouch leakage.

Peristomal skin complications can cause a wide range of signs and symptoms, from skin discoloration to polyp-like growths, from erythema to full-thickness wounds. They can lead to discomfort, pain, poor self-image, social isolation, and impaired quality of life, not to mention additional care costs.

Incidence and types of these complications are hard to compare or contrast across multiple patients. Until recently, no standardized assessment or documentation tools were available to characterize or define complications. For this reason, reported rates ranged widely, from 10% to 70%. And because no designated common language or categories related to peristomal skin complications existed, documentation was inconsistent.

Download “How to Use” education program for the Ostomy Skin Tool

Ostomy Skin Tool

In the late 2000s, a group of nurses experienced in caring for ostomy patients worked with the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists to develop a resource called the Ostomy Skin Tool, which clinicians can use to categorize and describe peristomal skin complications in a consistent, objective manner. The tool also provides a common language for documentation.

The Ostomy Skin Tool has three major assessment domains—discoloration (D), erosion/ulceration (E), and tissue overgrowth (T), known collectively as DET. The DET combined rating ranges from normal, rated 0, to the worst condition possible, rated 15. Mild DET complications are documented as less than 4, moderate as less than 7, and severe as 8 or higher. (See Using the Ostomy Skin Tool by clicking the PDF icon above.)

The tool describes four categories of peristomal complications:
• chemical irritation
• mechanical trauma
• disease-related complications
• infection-related complications.

Chemical irritation

Chemical irritation can stem from irritants (as in contact dermatitis) or allergic reactions (allergic dermatitis). The most likely cause of chemical dermatitis is effluent leakage (feces or urine) from the colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy, in which effluent comes in contact with peristomal skin. Other potential causes include contact with soap, certain adhesives, and adhesive removers.

The major treatment of chemical irritation is identification and removal of the offending agent, followed by patient and caregiver education on the new pouching procedure the patient must use. Follow-up assessment also is recommended. In a 2010 study that followed 89 patients for 1 year after ostomy surgery, about 50% of subjects experienced peristomal skin complications, most of them from pouch leakage. Another investigator estimated that 85% of ostomy patients experience pouch leakage at some time during their lives. Pouch leakage usually occurs when stool is extremely liquid (for instance, ileostomy effluent). Other causes of pouch leakage include wearing a pouch more than half full of effluent and abdominal contours that aren’t level. Besides changes in the pouching system, treatment may entail adding products to the pouching system or removing certain agents.

Some patients experience allergic dermatitis in reaction to products used in the pouching system (such as skin barriers, belts, pouch closures, or adhesives). However, allergic dermatitis is rare. One 2010 study suggested allergic reactions to these products occur in only about 0.6% of patients with peristomal skin irritation. Most major ostomy product manufacturers provide a patch test on request to help identify allergic conditions. Once the offending product is discontinued, allergic dermatitis should resolve rapidly.

Mechanical trauma

Mechanical trauma usually results from either the pouching system itself or its removal. It also may result from harsh or multiple skin-barrier removals, pressure from convex rings or pouches, and abrasive cleansing techniques. Some researchers believe the stronger the adhesive barrier and the more often a pouch is changed, the greater the risk of epidermal damage.

Mechanical trauma may present as a partial-thickness ulcer caused by pressure, shear, friction, tearing, or skin stripping. Patients with fragile skin are susceptible to mechanical trauma, so less aggressive pouching systems may be preferred for them. Of course, if the pouching system is changed, the patient or caregiver needs to learn about the new system.

Disease-related complications

Disease-related peristomal complications may be linked to preexisting skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), or seborrheic dermatitis. Hyperplasia also may occur. This overgrowth of cells, which may appear as gray or reddish brown pseudoverrucous lesions, usually is linked to urinary ostomies, although it can occur with fecal ostomies as well. Vinegar soaks are the recommended treatment, in addition to a change in the pouching system and corresponding patient education.

Occasionally, other disease-related complications occur, including primary adenocarcinoma of the peristomal skin and peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum, a painful and problematic condition that presents as peristomal ulcers. Ulcer borders are well-defined with a bluish purple coloration at the edges. Infection must be ruled out, as this condition usually is linked to an autoimmune condition. Treatment includes pain management and, in most cases, a topical corticosteroid. Crohn’s disease also may manifest as a peristomal skin ulcer.

Infection-related complications

Infection-related complications may be bacterial or fungal. Two common peristomal skin infections are folliculitis and Candida fungal infections. An infection of the hair follicle that causes pustules, folliculitis usually stems from traumatic hair pulling in the peristomal area during pouch removal. It may warrant a prescribed antibiotic, along with patient teaching regarding proper hair removal using an electric razor.

Candida infections may arise because peristomal skin provides a warm, dark, moist environment that promotes fungal growth. These infections appear as erythema with pustules or papules and satellite lesions. Treatment usually involves antifungal powder and use of the crusting technique to secure the pouching system. (See Using the crusting technique by clicking the PDF icon above.)

Management

Many complications are well advanced by the time patients seek assistance, perhaps because they don’t understand the significance of their symptoms and think they can manage the problem themselves. In some cases, they don’t know where to turn for assistance. Commonly, the complication progresses to the point where the patient goes to the emergency department or (particularly during the immediate postoperative period) needs to be readmitted for treatment. The best way to manage peristomal skin complications is to prevent them in the first place. (See Preventing peristomal skin complications by clicking the PDF icon above.)

Patient education

Over the past 20 years, hospital stays for ostomy surgery patients have decreased from about 2 weeks to less than 5 days. Reduced stays decrease the time available for caregivers to teach patients and family members how to empty and change the pouch. They need alternative education covering (among other topics) how to recognize peristomal skin complications and when to seek help. Not only do these complications require vigilant self-observation, but many patients don’t understand their implications or how rapidly they can worsen. In some cases, the first symptoms are itching and redness under the skin barrier. Fortunately, some patients may know or remember that itching, burning, stinging, reddened, or weeping peristomal skin requires professional attention. They can avoid serious complications by seeking assistance early, such as right after noticing pouch leakage.

Early treatment can reduce the cost of treatment. In a 2012 study, researchers estimated care costs related to peristomal skin complications for a 7-week treatment period, using the Ostomy Skin Tool as a reference. Severe complications (those with a DET score above 8) cost six times more to treat than mild cases (those with a DET score below 4) and 4.5 times more than moderate cases.

Along with early intervention by a trained ostomy care specialist, self-assessment by ostomy patients promotes a better quality of life, reduces pain, and may decrease care costs. Clinicians’ use of the Ostomy Skin Tool to assess and document peristomal skin complications promotes more reliable, objective, comparable assessment data for reporting.

Selected references
Al-Niaimi F, Lyon CC. Primary adenocarcinoma in peristomal skin: a case study. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2010;56(1):45-7.

Burch J. Management of stoma complications. Nurs Times. 2011;107(45):17-8, 20.

Jemec GB, Martins L, Claessens I, et al. Assessing peristomal skin changes in ostomy patients: validation of the Ostomy Skin Tool. Br J Dermatol. 2011; 164;330-5.

Jones T, Springfield T, Brudwick M, Ladd A. Fecal ostomies: practical management for the home health clinician. Home Healthc Nurse. 2011;29(5):306-17.

Martins L, Samai O, Fernandez A, et al. Maintaining healthy skin around an ostomy: peristomal skin disorders and self-assessment. Gastrointest Nurs. 2011;
9(2):9-13.

Martins L, Tavernelli K, Serrano JLC. Introducing a peristomal skin assessment tool: The Ostomy Skin Tool. World Council Enterostomal Therapists J. 2008;28(2):3-13.

Meisner S, Lehur P, Moran B, et al. Peristomal skin complications are common, expensive, and difficult to manage: a population based cost modeling study. PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e37813.

Nybaek H, Jemec GB. Skin problems in stoma patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24(3):249-57.

Omura Y, Yamabe M, Anazawa S. Peristomal skin disorders in patients with intestinal and urinary ostomies: influence of adhesive forces of various hydrocolloid wafer skin barriers. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2010;37(3):289-98.

Ratliff CR. Early peristomal skin complications reported by WOC nurses. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2010;37(5):505-10.

Shabbir J, Britton DC. Stomal complications: a literature overview. Colorectal Dis. 2010;12(10):958- 64.

Wound, Ostomy, Continence Clinical Practice Ostomy Subcommittee. Peristomal skin complications: Best practice for clinicians. Mt. Laurel, NJ; 2007.

The authors work for RecoverCare, LLC, in Louisville, Kentucky. Rosalyn Jordan is director of clinical education and Marci Christian is a clinical associate product specialist.

By Donald A. Wollheim, MD, WCC, DWC, FAPWCA

To begin appropriate treatment for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), clinicians must be able to make the correct diagnosis. Part 1 (published in the March-April edition) described CVI and its presentation. This article provides details of the CVI diagnosis (including the differential diagnosis from other diseases), disease classification to help assess the extent of CVI, diagnostic studies used to diagnose CVI, and various treatment options to “rescue” the patient from CVI. (more…)

By Patricia A. Slachta, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN

Assessing moisture and pressure risk in elderly patients continues to be a focus for clinicians in all settings, particularly long-term care. Ongoing research challenges our ideas about and practices for cleansing and protecting damaged skin. Until recently, most wound care clinicians have cleansed long-term care patients’ skin with mild soap and water. But several studies have shown pH-balanced cleansers are more efficient than soap and water for cleansing the skin of incontinent patients.

Various terms are used to describe skin breakdown related to moisture—incontinence-associated dermatitis, perineal dermatitis, diaper rash, intertriginal dermatitis, intertrigo, moisture-related skin damage, moisture-associated skin damage, and even periwound dermatitis. This article uses moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) because it encompasses many causes of skin breakdown related to moisture. Regardless of what we call the condition, we must do everything possible to prevent this painful and costly problem.

Skin assessment

Start with an overall assessment of the patient’s skin. Consider the texture and note dryness, flaking, redness, lesions, macerated areas, excoriation, denudement, and other color changes. (See Identifying pressure and moisture characteristics by clicking the PDF icon above.)

Assessing MASD risk

A patient’s risk of MASD can be assessed in several ways. Two of the most widely used pressure-ulcer risk scales, the Norton and Braden scales, address moisture risk. The Norton and Braden subscales should drive your plan for preventing skin breakdown related to moisture or pressure. The cause of breakdown (moisture, pressure, or shear/friction) must be identified, because treatment varies with the cause.

Both the Norton and Braden scales capture activity, mobility, and moisture scores. The Braden scale addresses sensory perception, whereas the Norton scale identifies mental condition. (See Subscales identifying pressure, shear, and moisture risk by clicking the PDF icon above.) Also, be aware that two scales have been published for perineal risk, but neither has been used widely.

You must differentiate pressure- and moisture-related conditions to determine correct treatment. Patients who are repositioned by caregivers are at risk for friction or shear. Also, know that agencies report pressure-ulcer prevalence. Care providers no longer classify mucous-membrane pressure areas in skin prevalence surveys; mucous membranes aren’t skin and don’t have the same tissue layers. Furthermore, don’t report skin denudement from moisture (unless pressure is present) in prevalence surveys.

When moisture causes skin breakdown

Skin has two major layers—epidermis and dermis. The epidermis itself has five layers: The outermost is the stratum corneum; it contains flattened, keratin protein–containing cells, which aid water absorption. These cells contain water-soluble compounds called natural moisturizing factor (NMF), which are surrounded by a lipid layer to keep NMF within the cell. When skin is exposed to moisture, its temperature decreases, the barrier function weakens, and skin is more susceptible to pressure and friction/shear injury. Also, when urea in urine breaks down into ammonia, an alkaline pH results, which may reactivate proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes in the stool. (See Picturing moisture and pressure effects by clicking the PDF icon above.)

Caring for moisture-related skin breakdown

The standard of care for moisture-related skin breakdown includes four major components: cleanse, moisturize, protect, and contain. Specific products used for each component vary with the facility’s product formulary.

Cleanse

Gently wash the area using a no-rinse cleanser with a pH below 7.0. Don’t rub the skin. Pat dry.

Moisturize

Use creams containing emollients or humectants. Humectants attract water to skin cells and help hold water in the cells; don’t use these products if the skin is overhydrated. Emollients slow water loss from skin and replace intracellular lipids.

Protect

Options for skin protectants include:
• liquid film-forming acrylate sprays or wipes
• ointments with a petroleum, zinc oxide, or dimethicone base
• skin pastes. Don’t remove these products totally at each cleansing, but do remove stool, urine, or drainage from the surface and apply additional paste afterward. Every other day, remove the paste down to the bare skin using a no-rinse cleanser or mineral oil.

Be sure to separate skinfolds and use products that wick moisture rather than trap it. These may include:
• commercial moisture-wicking products
• a light dusting with powder containing refined cornstarch or zinc oxide—not cornstarch from the kitchen or powder with talc as the only active ingredient
• abdominal pads.

Contain

To keep moisture away from skin, use absorbent underpads with wicking properties, condom catheters (for males), fecal incontinence collectors, fecal tubes (which require a healthcare provider order), or adult briefs with wicking or gel properties. Call a certified ostomy or wound care nurse for tips on applying and increasing wear time for fecal incontinence collectors.

If 4″ × 4″ gauze pads or ABD pads are saturated more frequently than every 2 hours, consider applying an ostomy or specially designed wound pouch to the area. Collecting drainage allows measurement and protects skin from the constant wetness of a saturated pad.

Don’t neglect the basics, for example, know that wet skin is more susceptible to breakdown. Turn the patient and change his or her position on schedule. Change linens and underpads when damp, and consider using a low-air-loss mattress or bed or mattress with microclimate technology.

Also, be aware that fungal rashes should be treated with appropriate medications. If the patient’s skin isn’t too moist, consider creams that absorb into the skin; a skin-protecting agent can be used as a barrier over the cream. Besides reviewing and using the standards of care, you may refer to the Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis Intervention Tool, which has categories related to skin damage. See the “Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis Intervention Tool” (IADIT).

Bottom line on skin breakdown

To help prevent skin breakdown related to moisture, assess patients’ skin appropriately, determine treatment using evidence-based guidelines, and implement an appropriate plan of care.

Selected references
Black JM, Gray M, Bliss DZ, et al. MASD part 2: incontinence-associated dermatitis and intertriginous dermatitis: a consensus. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2011;38(4):359-70.

Borchert K, Bliss DZ, Savik K, Radosevich DM. The incontinence-associated dermatitis and its severity instrument: development and validation. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2010;37(5):527-35.

Doughty D. Differential assessment of trunk wounds: pressure ulceration versus incontinence-associated dermatitis versus intertriginous dermatitis. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2012;58(4):20-2.

Doughty D, Junkin J, Kurz P, et al. Incontinence-associated dermatitis: consensus statements, evidence-based guidelines for prevention and treatment, and current challenges. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2012;39(3):303-15.

Gray M, Beeckman D, Bliss DZ, et al. Incontinence-associated dermatitis: a comprehensive review and update. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2012;
39(1):61-74.

Gray M, Black JM, Baharestani MM, et al. Moisture-associated skin damage: overview and pathophysiology. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2011;38(3):233-41.

Langemo D, Hanson D, Hunter S, Thompson P, Oh IE. Incontinence and incontinence-associated dermatitis. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2011;24(3):126-40.

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers: clinical practice guideline.Washington, DC: National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel; 2009.

Sibbald RG, Krasner DL, Woo KY. Pressure ulcer staging revisited: superficial skin changes & Deep Pressure Ulcer Framework©. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2011;24(12):571-80.

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. Guideline for Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers. Mt. Laurel, NJ: Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society; 2010.

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis: Best Practice for Clinicians. Mt. Laurel, NJ: Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society; 2011.

Zulkowski K. Diagnosing and treating moisture-associated skin damage. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2012;25(5):231-6.

Patricia A. Slachta is an instructor at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, South Carolina.

By Kathleen D. Pagana, PhD, RN

The elevator door opens and you step in to find yourself face to face with the important person you’ve wanted to meet to discuss your promising idea. It’s the chance you wouldn’t want to miss. But that chance lasts only as long as the elevator ride. You have less than a minute to make an impression. Do you have an elevator speech ready?

What’s an elevator speech?

An elevator speech is any short speech that sells an idea, promotes a business, or markets an individual. It’s a short summary, or pitch, that quickly describes the value of a service, product, or organization. The term is a metaphor for unexpected access to someone to whom you’d like to sell an idea or proposal. It derives from the early days of the Internet boom when web development companies needed venture capital. Firms were swamped with applications for funding, and in many cases, the companies that won the cash were those whose reps had a simple pitch and could explain a business proposal in an elevator in the time it took to ride to their floor.

A great elevator speech describes and sells an idea in less than a minute. Of course, it’s not restricted to elevators. It comes in handy any time and anywhere you need to give a concise presentation to capture someone’s interest so you can move to the next step—a follow-up call, a referral, a meeting, or a partnership.

Why clinicians need an elevator speech

You need to be able to describe what you do, what you’re interested in doing, and how you can be a resource to someone. The ability to sum up a unique aspect of your service or expertise in a way that excites others is a fundamental skill. Doing this in a brief, persuasive manner is an asset for any professional. A good elevator speech should grab one’s attention in a few words and make that person want to know more about you. Here are examples where a good elevator speech would be helpful:

• Thomas goes to a recruitment fair hoping to get an interview at a certain hospital.

• Mary is finishing her master of science degree and is interested in a position in a new wound care clinic.

• Caroline has written a book on grant writing and would like to present her ideas at a conference.

• Brian is interested in research and would like to join the research team.

• Mindy is trying to expand her wound consultation business.

You can use an elevator speech when you want to grab someone’s attention at a meeting, convention, or other social situation. In such situations, people typically ask, “What do you do?” A well-planned elevator speech can make the listener’s ears perk up and want to know more.

How to prepare an elevator speech

Before you can write an elevator speech, you need to know yourself, what you can offer, what problems you can solve, and what benefits you can bring to the prospective contact. For example, you may be an expert in professional communication and know strategies you can teach other staff to promote a better workplace environment.

You also need to know your audience. Will you direct your pitch to an administrator, a unit manager, or staff? You’re more likely to succeed if your elevator speech is targeted to a specific audience and you adjust it to that audience. Try to prepare different pitches for different audiences; a generic pitch is almost certain to fail. (See Key elements of a good elevator speech by clicking the PDF icon above.)

In today’s busy world, clinicians must be able to communicate in a succinct, persuasive manner. Your elevator speech is your introduction to others. It has to be good. Keep practicing it and perfecting it so you can speak with poise and polish. The more often you give it, the better it will become. It’s a great way to put your best foot forward when you have only a small window of opportunity to make a good impression.

 Selected references

King C. How to craft an effective elevator speech. Powerful Presentations Web site. www.creativekeys .net/powerfulpresentations/article1024.html. Accessed January 7, 2013.

Pagliarini R. How to write an elevator speech. BusinessKnowHow Web site. www.businessknowhow .com/money/elevator.htm. Accessed January 7, 2013.

Pincus A. The perfect (elevator) pitch. BloombergBusinessweek Web site. www.businessweek.com/ stories/2007-06-18/the-perfect-elevator-pitchbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial- advice. June 18, 2007. Accessed January 7, 2013.

Sjodin T. Small Message, Big Impact: The Elevator Speech Effect. New York, NY: Portfolio; 2012.  Sprung S, Giang V. 6 keys to delivering a powerful elevator pitch. Business Insider Web site. www .businessinsider.com/terri-sjodin-how-to-deliver- an-elevator-speech-2012-10. October 26, 2012. Accessed October 26, 2012.

Kathleen D. Pagana is a keynote speaker and professor emeritus at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She is the author of The Nurse’s Communication Advantage and The Nurse’s Etiquette Advantage. She is also the coauthor of Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, 11th ed. To contact her, visit www.KathleenPagana.com.

Clinician Resources

Here are resources that can help you in your busy clinical practice by giving you information quickly.

New guidelines for managing diabetic foot ulcers

The International Affairs & Best Practice Guidelines has released “Assessment and Management of Foot Ulcers for People with Diabetes, Second Edition,” published by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.

The guidelines include recommendations for practice, education, policy, and future resource. Strategies for implementation are given, as well as several useful appendices, such as:

• Debridement Decision-Making Algorithm
• A Guide to Dressing Foot Wounds
• PEDIS: Diabetes Foot Ulcer Classification System
• Offloading Devices
• Optimal Treatment Modalities.

The guidelines also recommend that clinicians refer to “Toolkit: Implementation of Best Practice Guidelines, Second Edition.”

PREPARE for complex medical decisions

PREPARE is a useful and patient-friendly website designed to help prepare people to make complex medical decisions. The website was developed by clinical researchers from the San Francisco VA Medical Center; the University of California, San Francisco; and NCIRE—The Veterans Health Research Institute.

PREPARE uses videos to provide concrete examples of how to identify what is most important in life; how to communicate that with family, friends, and doctors; and how to make informed medical decisions when the time comes. Users can also download a PDF of a PREPARE pamphlet.

Free guides for infection prevention from APIC

Download two free implementation guides for infection prevention from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC):

2013 Guide to Preventing Clostridium difficile Infections

This revised guide contains strategies for prevention, considerations for specific patient populations, evolving practices, and how to incorporate current regulations.

Topics include:

• C. difficile in pediatrics and skilled nursing facilities
• pathogenesis and changing epidemiology of C. difficile infection diagnosis
• environmental control
• new and emerging technologies
• tools and examples to help apply preventative measures, such as hand hygiene monitoring, environmental cleaning, and isolation compliance.

2013 Guide to Infection Prevention in Emergency Medical Services

This guide includes infection-prevention standards, regulations, and best practices, as well as instructions, examples, and tools to conduct surveillance and risk assessments.

Making health care safer

“Making Health Care Safer II: An Updated Critical Analysis of the Evidence for Patient Safety Practices,” from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, covers several topics of interest, such as preventing in-facility pressure ulcers, promoting a culture of safety, and human factors and ergonomics. The report lists 22 patient-safety strategies that are ready for adoption. You can access more information about these strategies, read a related special supplement from the Annals of Internal Medicine, and read a thoughtful commentary about the report, “Treat the system, not the error: Patient safety in 2013.”

DM Systems Introduces New Heelift® AFO

http://heelift.com/news09-13.html

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared a transfer dressing from Mölnlycke Health Care US

http://www.swbrinc.com/pressroom/read.php?aid=867

Internal compass points cells towards injury

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21829115.700-internal-compass-points-cells-towards-injury.html

By Kathleen D. Pagana, PhD, RN

As clinicians, we’re proud of the expert care we provide patients. But we also know that just doing our job isn’t enough to advance our careers. Mastering good communication skills is essential for all clinicians at all career stages—especially with today’s flatter organizational structures and more participatory management styles. Knowing how to communicate in a professional manner can give you the edge you need for career advancement.

Opportunity rarely knocks any more. Instead it may present as a phone call, voice mail, e-mail, or text message. Be sure to use proper etiquette with all communication forms.

Speaking with managers

When dealing with your manager, use a solution-focused approach. Don’t be a complainer. Some communication experts point out that people complain about things they can do something about—not things they have no power over. For example, they don’t complain about their foot size because there’s nothing they can do about it. Yet people often complain about their jobs because they’re unwilling to take the risk of making a change.

We need to take charge of our lives. We can accept the fact—without complaining—that we’re making the choice to stay where we are. Or we can make a request or take action to achieve a desired outcome. Suppose you work on a clinical unit and disagree with the way your manager makes clinical assignments. You have several options:

Complain to coworkers and make the workplace miserable for others.
Speak with your manager and make suggestions for improvement.
Leave your job and go elsewhere if you can’t work with your manager to make things better.

If you decide to stay in your job, accept the fact that you’ve made that choice. Take responsibility for it and stop complaining.

Speaking on the phone with physicians

For clinicians who are not physicians, the key to effective communication with physicians is to remember you’re an important member of the healthcare team. An effective way to guide your communication with physicians and other colleagues is to use a tool such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation). Say, for instance, you want to suggest the doctor order an anxiolytic for your patient. Here’s how you might do it using SBAR:

Situation: “Mrs. Smith is complaining of severe anxiety.”
Background: “She is 1 day post-op from a lumbar laminectomy.”
Assessment: “She is alert and oriented and her vital signs are stable. She has no numbness or tingling in her extremities.”
Recommendation: “She said she takes lorazepam 2 mg orally at when she’s anxious. Would you like to order something for her?”

Before ending the conversation, repeat and clarify the medication order (if the doctor gives one).

Telephone

The sound of your voice and your manners are essential components of phone etiquette. Smile—the smile on your face comes through in your voice. Here are five more tips:

Get yourself organized before placing the call.
Minimize background noise.
Immediately identify yourself. Don’t assume the recipient will recognize your voice.
Concentrate on listening and avoid multitasking.
Schedule phone conversations to avoid playing phone tag.

Voice mail

Voice mail is an efficient way to communicate. Again, five tips:

Always be prepared to leave a message. Jot down your key message points before you call, to avoid stuttering and stammering.
Be concise and to the point.
State your name and the date, time, and purpose of your call.
Enunciate clearly and speak slowly.
State your name and phone number twice at the end of the message so the recipient doesn’t need to replay your message.

E-mail

In many business settings, e-mail has almost replaced letters and memos. In many cases, an e-mail is a recipient’s first impression of you, so follow these tips:

Make the subject line specific. This helps the reader prioritize the message and file it for easy retrieval.
Use a greeting and a close. It’s more polite and less impersonal.
Keep your message concise.
Keep your tone polite and businesslike.
Use your e-mail signature function, which provides several ways to contact you.

Text messages

This form of communication can be the most challenging and unpredictable. Some people send text messages routinely, while others may be unfamiliar with this method. You can’t go too far wrong if you take this advice:

Get to the point quickly. No one wants to read a long message on a mobile phone.
Don’t text during meetings. It’s rude to do so, and others can hear you clicking away or see the light from your screen.
Consider the recipient before using text abbreviations. Some people may not understand text lingo.
Consider the time when sending a text. Although you may be awake at 5 a.m., the sound of your incoming message might disturb a sleeping recipient.
Don’t expect an immediate response to your text. If the message is time sensitive, pick up the phone instead.

Improving the way we speak with managers and physicians can go a long way toward career advancement and professional satisfaction. Common courtesy is just as essential in e-mail, voice mail, and text messages as in face-to-face communication. When you follow the guidelines I’ve given, you’ll elevate your professional communications a few notches.

Selected references
Canfield J, Switzer J. The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. New York, NY: Morrow; 2006.

Kramer M, Schmalenberg, C. Confirmation of a healthy work environment. Crit Care Nurse. 2008 Apr;28(2):56-63.

Pagana K. The Nurse’s Communication Advantage: How Business Savvy Communication Can Advance Your Nursing Career. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International; 2011.

Pagana K. The Nurse’s Etiquette Advantage: How Professional Etiquette Can Advance Your Nursing Career. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International; 2008.

A keynote speaker, Kathleen D. Pagana is a professor emeritus at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and president of Pagana Keynotes and Presentations. She is the author of The Nurse’s Communication Advantage and The Nurse’s Etiquette Advantage. To contact her, visit www.KathleenPagana.com.

Clinician Resources

Here are resources that can help you in your busy clinical practice by giving you information quickly.

Pressure ulcer resources

Instead of searching through Google or another search engine for pressure ulcer resources, start with this comprehensive list on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website.
Examples of resources included are:

“Preventing pressure ulcers in hospitals: A toolkit for improving quality of care.” This toolkit from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is designed to help hospitals in implementing pressure ulcer prevention strategies.
“On-time pressure ulcer healing project.” Another AHRQ initiative, this resource is designed for those working in long-term care facilities.
“Pressure ulcer prevention.” This table from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement lists possible mentors you can work with in the area of ulcer prevention.
“Shawnee Medical Center wound care quick reference guide.” This is a handy one-page reference guide that includes photographs and recommendations.
“How-to guide: Prevent pressure ulcers—pediatric supplement.” This guide, tailored for pediatrics, describes key evidence-based care components for preventing pressure ulcers and describes how to implement these interventions.

You can also access case studies from a variety of facilities around the United States.

http://partnershipforpatients.cms.gov/p4p_resources/tsp-pressureulcers/
toolpressureulcers.html

Lymphedema resources

The National Lymphedema Network is a nonprofit organization founded in 1988 to provide education and other information to healthcare professionals and patients with lymphedema, as well as the general public. The site includes an explanation of lymphedema that may be helpful for you to use in teaching your patients. It also includes access to some of the articles from the newsletter LymphLink.

http://www.lymphnet.org

Diabetes clinical practice guidelines

Many patients with chronic wounds have diabetes. To ensure those patients receive the best possible care, you can refer to the 2013 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes from the American Diabetes Association, which were published in the January issue of
Diabetes Care.

The journal provides a summary of the revisions and an executive summary of the standards related to each area, including diagnosis, testing, prevention, monitoring, and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management.

The guidelines include valuable information related to neuropathy screening and treatment and foot care. Recommendations for foot care include performing an annual comprehensive foot examination to identify risk factors predictive of ulcers and amputations. The foot examination should include inspection, assessment of foot pulses, and testing for loss of protective sensation.

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/36/Supplement_1

« 1 … 7 8 9 10 11 … 14 »