title: Assessment of risk for pressure ulcers using the Norton scale in nursing practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was risk assessment for the development of pressure ulcers and thus defining a group of patients considered to be at risk of developing pressure ulcers. It also helped to define the role of the nurse in the early assessment of the risk for developing pressure ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Risk assessment for the development of pressure ulcers was carried out in 199 patients hospitalised in The District Hospital in Bielsk Podlaski. The research was carried out with patients admitted to The Departments of General Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Long-Term Care. Risk assessment for the development of pressure ulcers was performed with the aid of the Norton scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increased risk for the development of pressure ulcers was found in more than half of the patients examined (53.8%). Pressure sores developed in 17.6% of the patients, women being at significantly greater risk. Risk assessment for the development of pressure ulcers with the aid of one of the recommended scales facilitates the early recognition of those patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Nursing, Medical University of Białystok, Poland. jola.lewko@wp.pl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewko
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demianiuk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krot
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krajewska-Kułak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sierakowska
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nyklewicz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jankowiak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index