Which nursing intervention can directly help reduce the risk of skin breakdown in bedridden patients?

Positioning a bedridden patient off bony prominences every two hours is an effective nursing intervention to reduce the risk of skin breakdown. Constant pressure on bony areas can compromise blood flow to the skin, resulting in tissue ischemia and the potential development of pressure ulcers. By repositioning the patient regularly, you alleviate this pressure, allowing blood circulation to improve and reducing the risk of skin integrity issues.

While encouraging hydration is important for overall health and can contribute to skin integrity, its direct impact on preventing skin breakdown is not as immediate as changing a patient’s position. Range of motion exercises can help improve circulation and muscle tone, but they do not specifically address the pressure exerted on bony prominences. Applying topical antiseptics may help prevent infection in existing wounds but does not directly prevent skin breakdown from pressure, making repositioning the most direct and effective strategy in this scenario.