All are methods to prevent bed sores, EXCEPT?

Appeared in: CGHS SSC - 2018

Explanation

The question asks to identify the action that is NOT a method for preventing bed sores.
Discouraging a patient from moving from the bed is directly counterproductive to preventing pressure ulcers.
Immobility and prolonged pressure are the primary causes of bed sores, as they restrict blood flow to tissues over bony prominences, leading to tissue necrosis.
All standard guidelines emphasize the importance of mobility, activity, and regular repositioning to prevent pressure ulcers.

Option A: This is a correct preventive measure. Keeping the skin lubricated with a lotion helps maintain its pliability and reduces the risk of breakdown from friction.
Option C: This is a correct preventive measure. Special mattresses, also known as pressure-redistributing surfaces, are designed to reduce pressure on vulnerable areas and are a key intervention for high-risk patients.
Option D: This is a correct preventive measure. Keeping the patient clean and dry, especially from urine and feces, prevents moisture-associated skin damage, which makes the skin more susceptible to breakdown.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Prevention of pressure ulcers (bed sores) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Pressure ulcer prevention is a key nursing quality indicator. Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are considered a 'never event' in many healthcare systems, as they are largely preventable.
Nurses are responsible for assessing patient risk on admission (using tools like the Braden Scale), implementing a prevention plan, and regularly reassessing the skin.
Failure to prevent pressure ulcers can lead to severe pain, infection, sepsis, increased length of hospital stay, and significant healthcare costs.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the prevention of bed sores (pressure ulcers).
Note the keyword 'EXCEPT'. This means you are looking for the option that is incorrect, harmful, or not a valid preventive measure.
Evaluate each option against your knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention.
Option A (lubrication), Option C (special mattresses), and Option D (cleanliness) are all standard, evidence-based interventions to protect the skin and reduce pressure.
Option B (discouraging movement) directly contradicts the fundamental principle of pressure ulcer prevention, which is to relieve pressure through movement and repositioning.
Therefore, the option that is the 'exception' is the one that promotes, rather than prevents, bed sores.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 2 pp. 111-113, 109-111

Practise the full CGHS SSC - 2018

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