UNAR Skin Care and Pressure Injury Prevention 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a pressure injury (also known as a pressure ulcer or bedsore)?
- An injury caused by prolonged pressure on the skin that cuts off blood flow (Correct answer)
- A skin infection caused by bacteria entering through a cut
- A bruise resulting from a fall or physical trauma
- A rash caused by an allergic reaction to bedding
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which body area is most commonly at risk for pressure injuries in a patient who is bedridden on their back?
- Forearms and elbows
- Abdomen and chest
- Sacrum and coccyx (Correct answer)
- Shoulders and upper back
Correct 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.
Question 3: How often should a bedridden patient be repositioned to help prevent pressure injuries?
- Every 15 minutes
- Every 2 hours (Correct answer)
- Every 6 hours
- Once per shift
Correct 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.
Question 4: What is the primary cause of pressure injuries?
- Poor nutritional intake
- Inadequate daily fluid intake
- Prolonged pressure on bony prominences that compresses blood vessels (Correct answer)
- Excessive moisture from perspiration
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which assessment tool is commonly used by healthcare teams to evaluate a patient's risk for developing pressure injuries?
- Glasgow Coma Scale
- Braden Scale (Correct answer)
- APGAR Score
- Visual Analog Pain Scale
Correct 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.
Question 6: What does a Stage 1 pressure injury look like?
- A full-thickness open ulcer with exposed bone or muscle
- A blister filled with clear or bloody fluid
- Non-blanchable redness on otherwise intact skin (Correct answer)
- A wound covered with yellow slough tissue
Correct 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.
Question 7: What type of sleep surface is recommended to help prevent pressure injuries in high-risk patients?
- A very firm mattress to provide strong support
- A standard foam hospital mattress
- A pressure-redistributing mattress or overlay (Correct answer)
- A waterbed mattress filled with standard water
Correct 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.
UNAR Skin Care and Pressure Injury Prevention 1
What is a pressure injury (also known as a pressure ulcer or bedsore)?