Pressure injury assessment can be challenging for patients with dark skin tones. Whether it’s staging or documentation of darkly pigmented skin, the limitations of visual assessment are a clear barrier to health equity. Which is why we’re excited to participate in this important pre-conference workshop as part of the NPIAP 2023 Annual Conference.
What: As part of the NPIAP 2023 Annual Conference focused on equity in prevention treatment, this pre-conference workshop will examine the methods available to detect skin changes due to pressure in persons with dark skin tones.
When: 3/16/2023 @ 12:30 PM (PT)
Where: Marriott Marquis, San Diego, CA
The 2019 Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) recommends that when assessing darkly pigmented skin, consider assessment of skin temperature and sub-epidermal moisture as important adjunct assessment strategies.
Additionally, new evidence-based practices were released in the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Preventing Pressure Injury guidelines. It states, “consider skin tone variances when assessing patients’ skin for signs of pressure injury after surgery. Patients with darkly pigmented skin should be assessed by checking the patient’s skin temperature, and the presence of edema, induration, and pain. (abbr.)”
For more information on pressure injury assessment, check out the educational project from the NPIAP titled, “Deep Tissue Pressure Injury or an Imposter“.
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