You are caring for a patient on your inpatient unit who is bedridden and unconscious. When the patient came to you, they already had a bedsore. How do you prevent this from happening again?

"To prevent additional bedsores for this patient, I would ensure the patient was moved and repositioned at least every two hours. I would have a conversation with all nursing staff on the unit and be sure to include this in the patient's chart. If we had them available, I would look for any additional bed support like a cushion or foam pad for the bed so the nursing staff could use it. If the patient is unconscious for a long period, I would consult the physical therapy team to help prevent both bedsores and muscle atrophy."

To prevent bedsores for their patients who are bedridden, physicians and residents should ensure their patients are repositioned at least once every two hours. Ensuring this will involve conversations with the nursing staff on the floor in a quick manner. As well, don't hesitate to talk about the importance of good nutrition and proper mattress or cushions in helping to prevent further bedsores for the patient.