Pressure Ulcer And Donut Pillows - General Nursing, Support, Stories

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  • › Pressure ulcer and donut pillows
Pressure ulcer and donut pillows

Published Dec 18, 2008

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    njinformaticsrn

    njinformaticsrn

    14 Posts

    If anyone can help ASAP, I'd appreciate it. I'm a first year nursing student. We were told very definitively in class NOT to use a donut pillow when the patient has a pressure ulcer. Our instructors stressed this. A family member is currently in the hospital post-op for mitral valve replacement. He's 84 and has been in the hospital for 8 days. Yesterday we noticed a stage I pressure sore on his sacrum- today the area has a small fissure and a barrier cream was applied. When we visited, he was sitting on a donut pillow given to him by his nurse. Is this contraindicated? If the donut should not be used, what can we use in its place? Is an inflatable rectangular cushion ok? Thank you very much for your help.

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      oldiebutgoodie

      oldiebutgoodie, RN

      643 Posts

      Dec 18, 2008

      A great chair cushion to use is the EHOB Waffle Chair Cushion.

      Here is the web site:

      http://www.waffle.com/store/list.html?submode=cat&cat_id=3

      We use them at our hospital, and they work great, are cheap, can be wiped down. (Single patient use, of course. They take them home).

      Oldiebutgoodie

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        njinformaticsrn

        njinformaticsrn

        14 Posts

        Dec 18, 2008

        but is the donut bad?

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          oldiebutgoodie

          oldiebutgoodie, RN

          643 Posts

          Dec 18, 2008
          but is the donut bad?

          http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007071.htm

          "Donut-shaped or ring-shaped cushions are NOT recommended. They interfere with blood flow to that area and cause complications. "

          http://www.npuap.org/archive/whatarepressureulcerspa%23190.pdf

          "Do not use donut-shape cushions. They reduce blood flow and cause

          tissue to swell, which can increase your risk of getting a pressure ulcer."

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            njinformaticsrn

            njinformaticsrn

            14 Posts

            Dec 18, 2008

            thank you so much. that's exactly what my notes said! because i'm just starting out, i doubt myself too much.

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              alex_hamilton18

              alex_hamilton18

              19 Posts

              Dec 18, 2008

              think about what your bottom looks like after sitting on the toilet too long...

              venous congestion!

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                CoffeeRTC

                CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN

                3,734 Posts

                Dec 18, 2008

                Donuts are a no no. Try sitting on a toilet seat for over an hour or so.

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                  loriangel14

                  loriangel14, RN

                  6,933 Posts

                  Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative. Dec 18, 2008

                  Donuts are a no-no where I work. Regular repositioning of the pt is very important to prevent pressure ulcers.

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                    mskate

                    mskate

                    280 Posts

                    Specializes in Burn, CCU, CTICU, Trauma, SICU, MICU. Dec 19, 2008

                    no no to donuts!

                    we take 2, 500cc bags on NS and take out 100 cc's and lay them next to each other and use those for pts who are in full spine precautions, etc...

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