Gingerbread men can run run as fast as they can, but Helen Anderson ( Tissue Viability Nurses at Weston Hospital Somerset) has caught the attention of frontline staff in an innovative way of teaching about pressure ulcers!With creativity, innovative thinking and a real sense of fun, Helen has introduced an education concept that is adaptable enough to be delivered in any clinical area. With the introduction of a character called “Ed the Edible Educator” Helen has driven through a unique training method to enrich the Trust's existing training programme regarding pressure ulcer prevention. With her Northern sense of fun and humour that appeals to frontline staff, Helen delivers training as a mobile unit ( Trolley Dash) to wards and departments and take various resourses, including Gingerbread men (Ed!) who act as a two dimensional, educational body map.
Staff are each given a case study/ scenario described to them and are asked to demonstrate the areas of pressure ulcer risk on their own gingerbread man, by drawing on his body with tasty icing from a tube Delivery of harm free Care has improved as can be demonstrated in the Safety Thermometer and reported incidents of hospital acquired pressure ulcers. As the training is delivered close to the point of care delivery (in wards and Departments) the learning has real meaning for staff as they are encouraged to relate the case studies directly to patients in their care.
Helen's “Trolley Dashes” with gingerbread men and Ed the Edible Educator encourage nurses to think holistically about
patients in their care to avoid tissue damage and early intervention. The initiative can also help to teach nurses about the less common pressure ulcers that occur underneath plaster of Paris and due to medical devices (such as oxygen tubing etc). to continually introduce variety to the teaching sessions.The Trust has seen a reduction in reported incidents of pressure ulcers and, although there have been several initiatives contributing to the reduction in pressure ulcers; Helen’s Edible Ed is the most memorable for staff. Helen has engaged the assistance of the Matrons and the Lead Nurse for Service Improvement who all contribute to the delivery of the Trolley Dashes with Ed and props, where needed and when appropriate. It has proven valuable in all wards and areas of the hospital, including the Emergency Dept, Operating theatres, Intensive Care Unit.
The initiative is well supported by the Executive team, who have also received "Gingerbread man teaching" so are now fully aware of what pressure ulcers look like, the implications of pressure ulcer damage to patients and the cost to the Trust.
This initiative has the potential of being used for other improvement initiatives, such as nutrition and hydration Week and dietitians are about to use a similar concept for Nutrition and Hydration Week. Helen is thrilled to have been shortlisted for BJN Awards, under category of Tissue Viability Nurse of the Year for this initiative.