Mobility — Correct
🔷 Mobility evaluates the client’s ability to independently change and control body position, which is essential in preventing prolonged pressure on bony prominences.
🔷 Clients who cannot reposition without assistance experience constant pressure on tissue, decreasing capillary blood flow and risking ischemia.
🔷 Reduced mobility directly increases the risk of pressure injury, making this one of the most heavily weighted Braden categories.
🔷 The Braden Scale grades mobility from completely immobile to fully mobile, allowing nurses to individualize repositioning schedules.
🔷 Accurately assessing mobility guides preventive interventions, such as frequent turning, pressure-relief surfaces, and physical therapy.
Nutrition — Correct
🔷 Nutrition assesses the client’s usual food intake patterns, especially protein and calories required for tissue repair.
🔷 Poor nutritional status weakens skin structure, reducing collagen formation and making it easier for pressure injuries to develop.
🔷 Clients with low protein intake are prone to edema, which further compromises skin integrity and perfusion.
🔷 The Braden Scale evaluates whether the client consumes adequate meals, supplements, or tube feedings, helping identify those at risk.
🔷 Strong nutritional intake improves tissue strength and oxygen delivery, lowering pressure injury risk and enhancing healing if breakdown occurs.
Moisture — Correct
🔷 Moisture assesses the extent to which skin is exposed to wetness, including sweat, urine, wound drainage, and feces.
🔷 Excessive moisture causes skin maceration, weakening the epidermal barrier and making it susceptible to breakdown with minimal friction.
🔷 Wet skin increases the risk of shear injuries, because softened tissue cannot tolerate movement or pressure changes.
🔷 Moisture is scored from constantly moist to rarely moist, helping nurses determine the need for moisture barriers and absorbent protective materials.
🔷 Managing moisture reduces infection risk, prevents painful skin irritation, and significantly lowers pressure ulcer development.
Incorrect Answer
Turgor — Incorrect
🔷 Skin turgor evaluates hydration status, not pressure-injury risk, and is therefore not included as one of the six Braden Scale categories (which are: sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, friction & shear).
🔷 Although poor turgor can indicate dehydration, it does not accurately predict pressure sore formation, so it is not part of the Braden scoring system and does not contribute to risk assessment for pressure ulcers.