Repositioning for pressure ulcer prevention in adults A Cochrane review.
The provision of good pressure area care is a core responsibility for nurses in all healthcare settings, particularly when patients are immobile, frail or elderly. Pressure area care involves assessment of the patient's skin and regular repositioning to prevent pressure injury/ulcers (PU; also known as pressure sores, bed sores or decubitus ulcers) These preventable complications occur when the soft tissues over a bony prominence are compressed by an external surface, reducing oxygen flow over a prolonged period of time. The severity and level of tissue injury is commonly graded by classifying the injury as stage 1 to 4, unstageable or suspected deep tissue injury (six stages in all) Despite being largely preventable, PUs are one of the top five adverse events reported in hospitalized patients with a reported incidence ranging between 3% and 30%
International journal of nursing practice