Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) Practice Exam

If a patient can transfer from bed to chair with minimal assistance, they will receive what score on the Friction and Shear question of the Braden Scale?

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

The correct answer is: 2

A score of 2 on the Friction and Shear question of the Braden Scale indicates that a patient can move independently in bed or can transfer from bed to chair, but may require some minimal assistance. This is indicative of a moderate level of mobility where the patient is still fairly independent but may need occasional help, particularly in navigating friction and shear forces during movement. The Braden Scale assesses several risk factors for pressure ulcers, one of which is the risk associated with friction and shear. Patients who can transfer with minimal assistance, like the situation described, experience some risk due to potential friction with bed linens or chairs, but their ability to transfer indicates they are not entirely immobile or critically dependent on assistance. This balance is why the score given is 2, reflecting a moderate risk rather than a higher or lower score which would indicate greater dependence or a higher degree of mobility.