Under pressure: nursing liability and skin breakdown in older patients

The geriatric patient presents many challenges to the professional nurse. As the body ages, its protective outer covering and largest organ, the skin, also changes. With an older adult's decreased mobility and amount of subcutaneous fat comes lessened protection from surfaces or bony prominences. As such, older adults' skin becomes weaker and more prone to breakdown and presents myriad challenges to the patient's well-being. One of the most hazardous challenges are pressure ulcers. Educating geriatric nurses in how to identify those at risk, accurately identify and categorize pressure ulcers, and limit or, ideally, eliminate their professional liability is essential to the effective care and treatment of this at-risk population.