Um.....what?

[Red Kryptonite]

Okay help me out here friends. Maybe I'm crazy or not understanding this correctly. I'm reading for class and came across this:

Goal/outcome statement - Patient's left hip ulcer will measure 1 cm x 2.5 cm in 3 weeks.

Evaluation/documentation - Outcome partially achieved. Patient's left hip ulcer measures 0.3 cm x 0.5 cm.

Since I have to assume we never want pressure ulcers to get bigger, then originally it must have been larger than 1 cm x 2.5 cm at the time of the writing of the goal statement. And, since 0.3 cm x 0.5 cm is substantially smaller than 1 cm x 2.5 cm, not only has the goal been met, it's been exceeded. So why term it as partially achieved?

If the stated goal had been total healing, then I would accept a classification of partially achieved. But as written, that makes no sense.

So is my book wrong, or am I somehow misunderstanding this?

[caliotter3]

I would think that the real goal is to have the wound completely healed. Probably not worded correctly.

[Red Kryptonite]

True, but my problem is mostly with the math.

[caliotter3]

Would be nice if an educator, a wound care expert, or one of our very knowledgeable members would chime in. Now I'm wondering too!

[Red Kryptonite]

I emailed my instructor. Let's see what she says.

[caliotter3]

Good idea. You could always also write a letter to the text author if you have the time and inclination. They are probably not aware that this was not caught by the editors and your letter could bring about a clarification in future editions.

[Red Kryptonite]

Especially as this is a brand new edition, probably a good idea.

[Jennurse1125]

My guess, it's partially achieved because it is not healed. Which class is this for?

[Red Kryptonite]

My guess, it's partially achieved because it is not healed. Which class is this for?

I just started a LPN program. My problem with your assertion is that total healing wasn't the stated goal. Reducing it in size was, and that goal was exceeded.

[JonnyQ23]

In my experience with most instructors, she won't know. It's likely a mistake.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Was the time elapsed between setting the goal and the evaluation statement somewhere in the question? The only thing I can come up with is if the time elapsed is less than the three weeks stated in the goal the partial achievement might be because the full three weeks have not passed so the final outcome is not yet known.

[Red Kryptonite]

Exact wording:

Goal and outcome statement

Patient's left hip ulcer will measure 1 cm x 2.5 cm in 3 wk (5/28/14)

Evaluation and documentation

5/28/14: outcome (goal) partially achieved. Patient's left hip ulcer measures 0.3 cm x 0.5 cm

That was a good thought though, kbrn, I had to go back and look closely and I was hoping you'd be right.