According to a 2014 published article on nursing practices, turning and repositioning patients helps reduce the risk of pressure injuries since it promotes good hygiene. As per their explanation, the side or part of the body that the patient lies on begins to sweat shortly after the patient is laid on the bed or sits. The reason for sweating, according to these authors, is that the air that is trapped under the affected side of the body gets heated up and becomes warm. The warm air then transmits its temperature to the side of the body. On sensing the rise in temperature, the authors explain that the body reacts by removing sweat so that it can bring a cooling effect.
In their 2013 published article, authors Thomas and Haber explain that the importance of turning and repositioning patients is to promote proper alignment of skeletal muscles, resulting in reduced risk of pressure injuries. According to these particular authors, the skeletal muscles of patients move whenever the patient moves. As per their explanation, it is not possible for the skeletal muscle to return to its original position when the patient makes an insignificant move aimed at returning to its original position. The impact of this is that it leads to improper alignment of skeletal muscles, which causes pain to the patient.
According to a 2011 published article on evidence-based practices in nursing, turning and repositioning patients help reduce the risk of pressure injuries since it prevents the occlusion of veins and arteries. Blockage of arteries and veins obstructs the process of supplying food and oxygen to certain parts of the body. The consequence of this is that it leads to dead of many blood cells. There is also the likelihood of experiencing organ failure if the veins and arteries of the patient are blocked for a very long time. This is especially true if the veins and arteries supply blood to or from major organs.
Authors James brown and William Mannford point out in their 2014 published article that turning and repositioning patients helps relieve pressure on the nerves and the skin which helps reduce the risk of pressure injuries. As per these authors, patients are more likely to experience numbness when too much pressure is exerted on their nerves. The main reason for this is that too much pressure constricts some parts of the nerve thereby impairing the communication channel of the nerve. An extreme consequence likely to be experienced by the patient is stroke.
James and William’s explanation in their article is supported by that of Steven Klein who adds that turning and repositioning patients help prevent deformities due to pressure. This author explains that too much pressure on certain parts of the human body may curve inwards or outwards depending on how the pressure is applied. In their words, deformities are more common in obese patients. According to these authors, obese patients exert abnormal pressure on other body parts when they lie.
In addition, Noah and Fredrick explain that turning and repositioning patients helps ensure access to the surgical site, which makes it easier to properly treat the injury, thereby reducing the risk due to pressure injuries. The authors point out that patients risk being treated improperly if surgeons are unable to access all the parts of the injured site. When applying powder medicine, for example, some parts will be left out. One of the consequences of this is that patient wounds will take longer time than expected to heal. There is also a likelihood that the untreated parts might harbor germs, leading to complications.
References
Brown, J. E., William, M. A., Ecoff, L., & Glaser, D. (2014). Nursing practice, knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers to evidence‐based practice at an academic medical center. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(2), 371-381.
Mörelius, E., & Anderson, G. C. (2015). Neonatal nurses’ beliefs about almost continuous parent-infant skin-to-skin contact in neonatal intensive care. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24(17/18), 2620-2627. doi:10.1111/jocn.12877
Noah, B. M., & Fredrick-Overholt, E. (Eds.). (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Stevens, K. (2013). The impact of evidence-based practice in nursing and the next big ideas. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 18(2), 4.
Thomas, G., & Haber, J. (2017). Nursing Research-E-Book: Methods and Critical Appraisal for Evidence-Based Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
