Which nursing action helps prevent pressure injuries for a postoperative patient?

Which nursing action helps prevent pressure injuries for a postoperative patient?

• A. Pad bony prominences to prevent pressure
• B. Use warming device to prevent hypothermia
• C. Follow aseptic technique
• D. Lift the client into position to prevent shearing forces

Answer: (A)

Pressure injuries happen when prolonged pressure over a bony area cuts off blood flow to the skin and underlying tissues. The most direct way to prevent them is to relieve and distribute that pressure so tissues stay perfused and protected. Padding bony prominences does exactly that by creating a cushion that spreads out pressure over a larger area, especially over common risk sites like heels, sacrum, and elbows. This helps maintain blood flow to the skin and underlying tissues, reducing the chance of tissue damage during a postoperative period when the patient may be immobilized. Warming devices address temperature and comfort, but they don’t directly protect tissue from the compressive forces that cause ulcers. Aseptic technique prevents infection, not pressure injury formation. Lifting to minimize shear is important for reducing skin tears and shear-related injuries, but padding directly targets preventing pressure by distributing force more evenly.

Pressure injuries happen when prolonged pressure over a bony area cuts off blood flow to the skin and underlying tissues. The most direct way to prevent them is to relieve and distribute that pressure so tissues stay perfused and protected.

Padding bony prominences does exactly that by creating a cushion that spreads out pressure over a larger area, especially over common risk sites like heels, sacrum, and elbows. This helps maintain blood flow to the skin and underlying tissues, reducing the chance of tissue damage during a postoperative period when the patient may be immobilized.

Warming devices address temperature and comfort, but they don’t directly protect tissue from the compressive forces that cause ulcers. Aseptic technique prevents infection, not pressure injury formation. Lifting to minimize shear is important for reducing skin tears and shear-related injuries, but padding directly targets preventing pressure by distributing force more evenly.