Skin Care and Pressure Injury Prevention Flashcards

What is a pressure injury (also known as a pressure ulcer or bedsore)?

Answer: An injury caused by prolonged pressure on the skin that cuts off blood flow

A pressure injury results from prolonged pressure on the skin that reduces blood flow to the tissue, causing damage or death of the skin and underlying tissue.

Which body area is most commonly at risk for pressure injuries in a patient who is bedridden on their back?

Answer: Sacrum and coccyx

The sacrum and coccyx are bony prominences that bear significant direct pressure when a patient lies in the supine (back-lying) position, making them the most common site for pressure injuries.

How often should a bedridden patient be repositioned to help prevent pressure injuries?

Answer: Every 2 hours

Standard clinical guidelines recommend repositioning bedridden patients at least every 2 hours to relieve sustained pressure and restore blood flow to at-risk areas.

What is the primary cause of pressure injuries?

Answer: Prolonged pressure on bony prominences that compresses blood vessels

Prolonged pressure on bony prominences is the primary cause of pressure injuries because it compresses blood vessels, blocking circulation and depriving tissue of oxygen and nutrients.

Which assessment tool is commonly used by healthcare teams to evaluate a patient's risk for developing pressure injuries?

Answer: Braden Scale

The Braden Scale assesses six risk factors — sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear — to calculate a patient's overall risk for pressure injury development.

What does a Stage 1 pressure injury look like?

Answer: Non-blanchable redness on otherwise intact skin

Stage 1 pressure injuries present as intact skin with localized, non-blanchable redness, indicating early damage to superficial tissue without any open wound.

What type of sleep surface is recommended to help prevent pressure injuries in high-risk patients?

Answer: A pressure-redistributing mattress or overlay

Pressure-redistributing mattresses and overlays spread body weight over a larger surface area, reducing the concentration of pressure on individual bony prominences.