The Braden Scale is the most widely used bedside tool for predicting which patients are likely to develop a pressure injury. By scoring six clinical domains it converts a nursing assessment into a single number that triggers a matched prevention protocol.
How it works
The scale sums six subscales:
sensory perception 1–4
moisture 1–4
activity 1–4
mobility 1–4
nutrition 1–4
friction & shear 1–3
total 6–23 (lower = higher risk)Because lower scores mean more impairment, the total runs inversely to risk. A patient who is bedfast, immobile, constantly moist, and poorly nourished accumulates low subscale scores and a low — high-risk — total.
Interpretation and tips
A common banding is 19–23 no risk, 15–18 mild, 13–14 moderate, 10–12 high, and 9 or below very high risk. As the total falls, interventions escalate from routine repositioning and moisture management up to pressure-redistribution mattresses, heel protection, nutritional support, and specialist support surfaces. Always pair the score with direct skin inspection: the Braden Scale flags risk but never replaces examining the skin over bony prominences.