Braden Scale Pressure Injury Risk Assessment

The Braden Scale Pressure Injury Risk Assessment Form implements the most widely used evidence-based tool for predicting pressure injury development in hospitalized and long-term care patients. It systematically evaluates six subscale domains — sensory perception, moisture exposure, physical activity level, mobility, nutritional status, and friction/shear — each scored on a defined scale that contributes to a composite risk score. Lower total scores indicate higher risk, with established clinical cutpoints that guide the intensity of preventive interventions required. This standardized scoring approach ensures consistent risk identification across care providers and shifts.

The template extends the core Braden subscales with supplementary documentation sections that capture the patient's current skin assessment findings, including any existing pressure injuries staged according to the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) classification system. It records the specific preventive interventions implemented based on the risk score, such as repositioning schedules, support surface selection, nutritional supplementation, and moisture management strategies. A section for documenting contributing comorbidities like diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and immunosuppression provides the clinical context needed to interpret scores and individualize prevention plans.

Designed for acute care hospitals, intensive care units, skilled nursing facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, and home health agencies, this form supports compliance with CMS Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) reduction program requirements and Joint Commission quality metrics for pressure injury prevention. It enables nursing staff to perform rapid, reproducible risk assessments that translate directly into actionable care plans, while providing quality improvement teams with the structured data needed to track institutional pressure injury incidence and prevention program effectiveness.