What is the recommended frequency for using the Braden Scale on a routine basis (other than when there is a sustained change in a patients condition)?
The evidence shows that admission assessment is not enough and that on-going assessment improves the accuracy and the predictive ability of the Braden Scale. The frequency of on-going assessments varies by clinical area and the stability or liability of the patient population. While a frequency of every 48 hours may be sufficient, many settings find it difficult to achieve consistency in nursing practice with this regimen. Consequently, most ICU’s have adopted a policy of completing a Braden Scale assessment every shift, while general Medical-Surgical areas now complete a Braden Scale daily. We recommend that home care nurses perform the assessment with each RN visit, as these tend to correlate to skilled need patients. Nursing homes with skilled designations should perform risk assessment on admission and weekly thereafter. In nursing home with long-term patients, the assessment should be done on admission, weekly for the first month, and monthly thereafter.
