Importance of Risk Assessment for Pressure Ulcer: Implications and Risk Factors

Risk Assessment

Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..............................................................................................................................................3
1. Nursing assessment tool......................................................................................................................3
2. Importance of Risk Assessment...........................................................................................................4
Prevalence of Pressure Ulcer in UK........................................................................................................4
Cost to NHS for Pressure Ulcer...............................................................................................................4
3. Risk factors & their relevance.............................................................................................................6
4. Action and Reaction............................................................................................................................7
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Pressure ulcer is regarded as bed sores which is caused due to damage in skin and underlying
tissues over some bony prominence as these results due to long term pressure and develop skin friction
and tear. Pressure ulcer is most common to the skin which covered bony area of the body parts such as
heels, ankle, hip and tail-bone (Lachenbruch and et. al., 2016.). Pressure ulcer is a localised injury to
skin which is faced due to prolonged pressure for certain period and due to this tissues between bony
parts get compressed. This report is providing impacts and medical implications of pressure ulcer for an
individual so that to provide them appropriate treatment in respect of following disease.
MAIN BODY
1. Nursing assessment tool
Braden scale is used by medical practitioner in order to predict pressure ulcer risk, this is the
method which is helpful in assessing risk factor of individual dealing with pressure ulcer. In this method
different parameters are being observed and with the help of those parameters cognitive reactions can be
given. These parameters are:
 Sensory perception- This is the parameter which is used in order to analyse patient's ability to
respond over pain and discomfort. This is the ability which is playing significance role in reacting
to some pressure related discomfort.
 Moisture - This is the situation of risk in which skin integrity can be exposed. This is the risk of
epidermal erosion. So under this category assessment related to skin is analysed so that to
integrate assessment process in appropriate manner.
 Activity - Under this category patient's level of physical activity is tested which denotes the level
of breakdown of tissues.
 Mobility - This is the category in which capabilities of body position is tested in independent
manner so that to analyse willingness of client in respect of movement and other physical
competency.
 Nutrition - This is the assessment of nutritional status of client in which high risk under nutrition
category can be tasted.
 Friction and shear - Fiction and sheer is defined as the amount of assistance needed by the
client in respect of moving or sliding from bed or chair. This is the category which is assessed by
providing slide motion within skin and bone (Shi, Dumville and Cullum, 2018). As with the help
of appropriable moisture susceptibility of friction get enhanced.