Braden Scale Assessment Form

BRADEN SCALE – For Predicting Pressure Sore Risk
DATE OF
ASSESS 

SEVERE RISK: Total score 9 HIGH RISK: Total score 10-12
MODERATE RISK: Total score 13-14
MILD RISK: Total score 15-18

RISK FACTOR

SCORE/DESCRIPTION

SENSORY
PERCEPTION

1. COMPLETELY
LIMITED – Unresponsive

Ability to respond meaningfully to pressure-related discomfort

(does not moan, flinch, or grasp) to painful stimuli, due to diminished level of consciousness or sedation, OR limited ability to feel pain over most of body surface. MOISTURE

1. CONSTANTLY
MOIST– Skin is kept moist almost constantly by perspiration, urine, etc. Dampness is detected every time patient is moved or turned.
1. BEDFAST – Confined to bed.

Degree to which skin is exposed to moisture ACTIVITY
Degree of physical activity MOBILITY
Ability to change

2. VERY LIMITED –
Responds only to painful stimuli. Cannot communicate discomfort except by moaning or restlessness, OR has a sensory impairment which limits the ability to feel pain or discomfort over ½ of body.
2. OFTEN MOIST – Skin is often but not always moist. Linen must be changed at least once a shift. 2. CHAIRFAST – Ability to walk severely limited or nonexistent. Cannot bear own weight and/or must be assisted into chair or wheelchair.

and control body position 1. COMPLETELY
IMMOBILE – Does not make even slight changes in body or extremity position without assistance. 2. VERY LIMITED –
Makes occasional slight changes in body or extremity position but unable to make frequent or significant changes independently. NUTRITION

1. VERY POOR – Never

Usual food intake pattern eats a complete meal.
Rarely eats more than 1/3 of any food offered. Eats
2 servings or less of protein (meat or dairy products) per day. Takes fluids poorly. Does not take a liquid dietary supplement, OR is NPO1 and/or maintained on clear liquids or IV2 for more than 5 days.
1. PROBLEM- Requires moderate to maximum assistance in moving.
Complete lifting without sliding against sheets is impossible. Frequently slides down in bed or chair, requiring frequent repositioning with maximum assistance.
Spasticity, contractures, or agitation leads to almost constant friction.

2. PROBABLY
INADEQUATE – Rarely

1

NPO: Nothing by mouth. IV: Intravenously.
3
TPN: Total parenteral nutrition.
2

FRICTION AND
SHEAR

TOTAL
SCORE
ASSESS

eats a complete meal and generally eats only about
½ of any food offered.
Protein intake includes only 3 servings of meat or dairy products per day.
Occasionally will take a dietary supplement
OR
receives less than optimum amount of liquid diet or tube feeding. 2. POTENTIAL
PROBLEM– Moves feebly or requires minimum assistance.
During a move, skin probably slides to some extent against sheets, chair, restraints, or other devices. Maintains relatively good position in chair or bed most of the time but occasionally slides down.

1

3. SLIGHTLY LIMITED –
Responds to verbal

3

4

4. NO IMPAIRMENT –
Responds to verbal commands. Has no sensory deficit which would limit ability to feel or voice pain or discomfort. commands but cannot always communicate discomfort or need to be turned, OR has some sensory impairment which limits ability to feel pain or discomfort in 1 or 2 extremities. 3. OCCASIONALLY
MOIST – Skin is occasionally moist, requiring an extra linen change approximately once a day.

4. RARELY MOIST – Skin is usually dry; linen only requires changing at routine intervals.

3. WALKS

4. WALKS

occasionally during day, but for very short distances, with or without assistance. Spends majority of each shift in bed or chair.
3. SLIGHTLY LIMITED –
Makes frequent though slight changes in body or extremity position independently. outside the room at least twice a day and inside room at least once every
2 hours during waking hours. 3. ADEQUATE – Eats

4. EXCELLENT – Eats most of every meal.
Never refuses a meal.
Usually eats a total of 4 or more servings of meat and dairy products.
Occasionally eats between meals. Does not require supplementation.

OCCASIONALLY – Walks

FREQUENTLY– Walks

4. NO LIMITATIONS –
Makes major and frequent changes in position without assistance. over half of most meals.
Eats a total of 4 servings of protein (meat, dairy products) each day.
Occasionally refuses a meal, but will usually take a supplement if offered,
OR
is on a tube feeding or
3
TPN regimen, which probably meets most of nutritional needs.
3. NO APPARENT
PROBLEM – Moves in bed and in chair independently and has sufficient muscle strength to lift up completely during move. Maintains good position in bed or chair at all times.

Total score of 12 or less represents HIGH RISK
DATE

EVALUATOR SIGNATURE/TITLE

ASSESS.

DATE

1

/

/

3

/

/

2

/

/

4

/

/

NAME-Last

2

First

Form 3166P BRIGGS, Des Moines, IA 50306 [phone] www.BriggsCorp.com
R304
PRINTED IN U.S.A

Middle

Attending Physician

EVALUATOR SIGNATURE/TITLE

Record No.

Source: Barbara Braden and Nancy Bergstrom. Copyright, 1988.
Reprinted with permission. Permission should be sought to use this tool at www.bradenscale.com

Room/Bed

BRADEN SCALE

Use the form only for the approved purpose. Any use of the form in publications (other than internal policy manuals and training material) or for profit-making ventures requires additional permission and/or negotiation.