Should A Pressure Ulcer Develop on a Patient in a Hospital?

In almost all instances, pressure ulcers (sometimes referred to as bedsores or decubitus ulcers or pressure injuries) should NOT develop on a patient in a hospital. Many patients who lose mobility due to coma or stroke or medication, no matter their age, can be at risk of a pressure injury on their bony prominences, such as their coccyx (tailbone), heels, or elbows. Failure to properly reposition a patient, as required by the applicable standard care, can lead to debilitating pressure ulcers. Nutrition, hydration and proper skin assessment by nurses are also important in preventing pressure ulcers. Patients and families should be aware that typically a patient should be repositioned every two hours if lying down, or if sitting up in a chair, the patient should be repositioned every hour. The seated position puts more pressure on the area around the coccyx (tailbone) increasing risk for skin breakdown. Pressure ulcers are serious injuries that should be prevented and avoided.