National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) (Nursing Care Center / Nursing Care Center)
Pressure Ulcer - Decubitus Ulcers vs. Pressure Ulcers
Publish | January 01, 0001
NPSG 14 talks about the prevention of "healthcare-associated pressure ulcers" in the long term care population. What is the difference between "pressure ulcers" and "decubitus ulcers?"
"Pressure ulcer" is a broader term that includes decubitus ulcers but also includes any ulcerations associated with pressure (e.g. prosthetic limbs or dental prostheses). "Decubitus ulcer" refers to the breakdown of skin and subcutaneous tissue due to prolonged, unrelieved pressure over a bony prominence, often associated with malnutrition, paralysis, or physical deformity.
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