A nurse's aid to clinical selection of pressure-reducing equipment

The selection of appropriate pressure-relieving equipment for individuals in the community is an important process in the prevention of pressure ulcers. The clinical decision is made by community nurses who are accountable for their actions and who therefore have to have clear rationale for the decisions they make. Risk tools are not a completely reliable or valid method of assessing patients. The current national guidelines (National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2001) are not specific in relation to the selection or choice of equipment. This article explores how these decisions are made.