Pressure injuries are common and expensive wounds, with a cost of individual patient care ranging from $20,900 to $151,700 per pressure injury in the United States. Most of these painful and debilitating injuries are preventable, although some are unavoidable.

Use of a comprehensive skin and risk assessment system can help prevent or identify pressure injuries, including present-on-admission injuries. Risk factors for pressure injuries include inadequate nutrition and hydration, spinal cord injury, older age, and medical devices, among other factors. Skin protection and patient positioning are key elements in pressure injury prevention and management.

This fact sheet provides specific information on pressure injury prevention, risk mitigation, nursing education, and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care professionals who care for patients at risk for pressure injuries will find this fact sheet useful for optimizing clinical outcomes in their patients. The following topics are covered:

Download Quick Facts – Pressure Injury Prevention to share with colleagues in your facility. The print-friendly format lends itself to posting on the bulletin board or handing out to your nursing staff at in-service.