Essay Sample on Ultrasound: A Nurse's Tool to Identify Pressure Injuries

Introduction

There several forms of modern technology that a nurse can use to identify the pressure injuries that the patient has suffered while still on admission. One of such technologies is ultrasound. Nurses should use ultrasound technology to identify the injuries on the patient's various body parts—the use of the ultra-waves results to cross-sectional images showing the extent of the injury. In most cases, this technology effectively detects pressure injuries on delicate parts like the stomach, abdomen, and head. Another technology is thermography. It is always advisable for nurses to take the temperature of the patient. The temperature fluctuations above or below the normal body temperature is an indication of an abnormal condition. It is important to take further tests to identify the actual illness.

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Subepidermal Moisture Measurement Technology

The third applicable technology is Subepidermal Moisture Measurement technology. The technology is effective in determining the moisture content in the skin tissues (Scafide et al.,2020). Whenever this test shows very high-water levels in the skin, the healthcare practitioner should look for inflammations on the patient's body and treat them immediately. Light technology is also recommendable. Nurses use the technology to study the skin tones f the patient. This technology is effective in identifying injuries on patients that lie on one side for long hours.

Findings of Smoking

Nurses should have a thorough review of a patient’s bones, especially those with smoking history. Nurses should always educate their patients that cigarette smoking increases the levels of musculoskeletal disorders in their bodies. The impact is the increased risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis (Niu & Lim, 2020). It is recommendable to note that the effects of cigarette smoking go beyond causing cancer and vein thrombosis. As a nurse, always encourage your patients to cease smoking substances because it hurts not only the breathing system but also the bone structures. Notably, patients with histories of fracturing their bones frequently should have nicotine levels present in their bodies checked frequently.

Conclusion

Smoking is a major cause of delays in the formation of bones. Therefore, nurses should always discourage expectant mothers from smoking. If an expectant mother smokes, there is a high risk of slow bone formation in the unborn child's bones. The newborn is also likely to suffer from bone fractures frequently during the first three years after delivery. Nurses should always inform the patients who visit the clinics about the dangerous effects of smoking on bone development. It is time to create awareness to minimize orthopedic surgeries occurring in the USA.

References

Niu, S., & Lim, F. (2020). CE: The Effects of Smoking on Bone Health and Healing. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 120(7), 40-45.

Scafide, K. N., Narayan, M. C., & Arundel, L. (2020). Bedside Technologies to Enhance the Early Detection of Pressure Injuries: A Systematic Review. Journal of Wound Ostomy & Continence Nursing, 47(2), 128-136.