🩹 Braden Pressure-Injury Risk Scale
The Braden Scale grades pressure-injury (pressure-ulcer) risk across six subscales, supporting risk stratification and preventive nursing intervention for inpatients.
Braden Pressure-Injury Risk Scale
Sensory perception
Moisture
Activity
Mobility
Nutrition
Friction and shear
When to use
Score the six items — sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear — and sum them. A lower total indicates higher risk; pair the result with skin inspection and a repositioning/support-surface plan.
How it works
Total = sensory perception + moisture + activity + mobility + nutrition + friction & shear (range 6–23). Risk bands: ≤9 very high · 10–12 high · 13–14 moderate · 15–18 mild · ≥19 minimal.
Key points
- A lower score means higher risk — the opposite direction of most clinical scores; the maximum is 23 and the minimum is 6. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim)
- Five of six subscales score 1–4; the friction & shear item scores 1–3, which is why the total floor is 6.
- Reassess on admission, with any change in condition, and at unit-defined intervals; the score guides — but does not replace — daily skin inspection, repositioning, and support-surface selection.
References
- Bergstrom N, et al. The Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk. Nurs Res. 1987;36(4):205-210.
- EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. 2019.
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.