What characterizes an avoidable pressure injury?

An avoidable pressure injury is characterized by being a result of improper application of nursing procedures. This means that through appropriate assessment, careful patient monitoring, and proper implementation of preventive measures, such injuries can be avoided. The nursing process includes identifying risk factors, ensuring regular repositioning of patients, and using pressure-relieving devices where necessary. When these strategies are correctly applied and adhered to, the likelihood of developing pressure injuries significantly decreases.

Addressing the other options provides further clarity. An injury that cannot be prevented is not consistent with the concept of avoidable injuries, as the term itself implies that proper care can avert the injury. The proper use of the nursing process leads to outcomes that ideally prevent pressure injuries rather than causing them. Lastly, while pressure injuries can occur in bed-bound patients, they are not confined to this group; they can also affect individuals who are immobile in chairs or are otherwise at risk, making it inaccurate to state that they only occur in bed-bound patients.