ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Medical device-related pressure injuries attributed to oxygen delivery devices are common yet preventable. Pressure injuries increase hospital costs, patients' length of stay, and mortality rates. OBJECTIVE: To decrease medical device-related pressure injuries by transitioning patients from an over-the-nose noninvasive ventilation mask to a single-headset, interchangeable under-the-nose and over-the-nose noninvasive ventilation mask; replacing polyvinyl chloride nasal cannulas with a softer nasal cannula; and providing staff education on preventing pressure injuries related to oxygen delivery devices. METHODS: The project was implemented on 4 adult inpatient units with a total of 75 inpatient beds at an academic medical center. Interventions included implementing the trial noninvasive ventilation masks and nasal cannulas, alternating masks every 4 hours, relocating protective dressings, promoting the use of protective dressings for over-the-nose oral-nasal masks, and educating health care staff. RESULTS: In the 2 months before implementation (September and October 2020), 1 medical device-related pressure injury was caused by a noninvasive ventilation mask and 4 injuries were caused by nasal cannulas. During the 2 months of trial implementation (November and December 2020), no pressure injuries developed in patients using the trial devices. DISCUSSION: The interventions implemented had clinically relevant results. A larger sample size would be necessary to determine statistical significance. Postintervention data indicated a need for further education on evidence-based practice guidelines on mask alternation and use of preventive dressings to bolster compliance. CONCLUSION: Following institutional approval, all noninvasive ventilation masks and nasal cannulas were transitioned to the trial devices at the study institution.
