Pressure Injuries

These flashcards cover key concepts related to pressure injuries, including risk factors, staging, types of injuries, prevention methods, and essential definitions.

Risk Factors

Factors that increase the likelihood of developing pressure injuries, such as being older, emaciated, incontinent, immobile, or having impaired circulation.

Stage 1 Pressure Injury

Erythema of intact skin that will not blanch and requires avoiding direct massage over the area.

Stage 2 Pressure Injury

Partial thickness tissue loss with exposed dermis, which may present with blisters; harder to heal than Stage 1.

Stage 3 Pressure Injury

Full-thickness tissue loss involving the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue without muscle or bone involvement; undermining or tunneling may occur, raising the risk of infection.

Stage 4 Pressure Injury

Full-thickness skin and tissue loss involving muscle, tendon, joint, or bone, potentially leading to osteomyelitis; slow to heal.

Unstageable Pressure Injury

Full-thickness tissue loss where accurate staging is impossible due to the presence of eschar, which should not be removed.

Deep Tissue Pressure Injury (DTPI)

An injury with intact or nonintact skin appearing red, maroon, or purple, which does not blanch and may form a blister.

Braden Scale

A tool used to assess the risk of developing pressure injuries based on factors like sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction.

Prevention Strategies

Methods to prevent pressure injuries, including regular repositioning, skin assessment, maintaining clean and dry skin, adequate nutrition, and use of specialty beds.

NPIAP

National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel, an organization focused on education and prevention of pressure injuries.