This tool identifies consumers at risk of pressure ulcers by assessing factors like build, skin condition, age, continence, mobility, appetite, and specific risk factors such as malnutrition, neurological issues, surgery/trauma, and medication.
The Waterlow risk assessment consists of:
– build/weight
– height
– visual assessment of the skin
– gender/age
– continence
– mobility
– appetite
– special risk factors, divided into tissue malnutrition, neurological deficit, major surgery/trauma, and medication.
Assessing pressure ulcer risk should rely on clinical judgment and validated scales like Norton-risk Assessment scale
This package includes a PowerPoint presentation, a web-snap video from Lorraine Poulos RN and Jacqui Culver Nurse Practitioner, and a sample of the Waterlow assessment tool.
