Braden Score Calculator

The Braden Scale evaluates six distinct subscales: Sensory Perception, Moisture, Activity, Mobility, Nutrition, and Friction and Shear. Each subscale is rated from 1 (completely impaired or at highest risk) to 4 (completely adequate or no impairment), with the exception of Friction and Shear, which is rated on a 1 to 3 scale. The overall Braden Score is calculated by taking the direct mathematical sum of all individual subscale ratings. The total score ranges from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 23, where lower scores indicate a severely elevated vulnerability to pressure ulcers.

Consider an elderly patient recovering from hip surgery in a post-acute care facility. During a morning nursing assessment, the clinician assigns the following subscale values: Sensory Perception is rated 3 (slightly limited due to mild sedation), Moisture is rated 3 (occasionally moist due to mild perspiration), Activity is rated 2 (chairbound, unable to walk independently), Mobility is rated 2 (very limited, makes occasional slight changes in body position), Nutrition is rated 3 (adequate, eats most of every meal), and Friction and Shear is rated 2 (potential problem, requires assistance to move without sliding). Summing these figures together (3 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 2) yields a total Braden Score of 15. This places the patient in the mild-to-moderate risk category, prompting the care team to initiate a specialized turning schedule and a moisture-barrier skin care regimen.

Always assess the patient's skin integrity in conjunction with the numerical score, as visual inspection remains the gold standard of care. Re-evaluate high-risk patients at least once every shift or whenever their clinical condition changes significantly, such as following surgery or a sudden fever. Ensure consistency by having multidisciplinary team members collaborate on the ratings to eliminate subjective bias.