Nursing care to adult patient: mucocutaneous injuries prevention and patient safety

Abstract

Aim: to identify nursing care for skin and mucosal lesions prevention in hospitalized adult patients and possible difficulties encountered by professionals to promote these actions. Method: A descriptive, exploratory qualitative study conducted in 2014 with interview of 118 active nurses in clinical and surgical inpatient units, intensive care unit and emergency room of a hospital in Southern Brazil. Results: three categories emerged: the meaning of patient safety; patient safety and the prevention of mucocutaneous injuries; the difficulties to promote patient safety and prevention of skin and mucosal lesions. Conclusions: the care provided for the prevention of skin and mucosal lesions mostly agree with what the literature recommends. However, patient safety meaning is limited to preventing tumbles and pressure ulcers