According to the Braden scale, which client is at highest risk for developing a pressure ulcer?

The Braden scale is a widely used tool for predicting the risk of developing pressure ulcers, with scores that reflect a patient’s risk levels based on several criteria, including sensory perception, moisture, activity level, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear. The scale generally ranges from 6 to 23, with lower scores indicating a higher risk for pressure ulcers.

A score of 15 indicates that the client is at a moderate risk for pressure ulcer development. This scoring suggests that the client may have some vulnerabilities in areas such as sensory perception or mobility, which heightens their risk compared to higher scores.

In contrast, higher scores such as 18, 20, and especially 30 represent lower levels of risk due to better sensory perception, nutrition, and activity levels among those clients. They imply that the individuals are less likely to develop pressure ulcers based on the criteria assessed by the Braden scale.

Thus, the client with a score of 15 is indeed at the highest risk for pressure ulcer development compared to those with scores of 18, 20, and 30.