Article Updated: November 14, 2023
Braden Q Scale
The Braden Scale is used for assessing pressure wounds. In every medical malpractice investigation where the victim had a pressure wound, I look for this document to find out if the medical facility should have known its patient was susceptible to acquiring a bed sore.
The Braden Q Scale is a similar tool, but used for young children. Below, you will learn the basics of this medical tool, why it is so important, and how its proper use should prevent children from suffering from bed sore or pressure wound injuries.
Clickable Table of Contents
Braden Q Scale
1 – What Is The Braden Scale?
2 – What Is The Braden Q Scale?
3 – Braden Q Scale Utility
4 – Help With Braden Scale & Braden Q Scale Claims
Resources
5 – Supporting Literature, Citations & Research
6 – About the Author
7 – Legal Help in Maryland & Nationally
What Is The Braden Scale?
A Braden Scale is a diagnostic tool that is used to identify the level of risk there is for a patient to develop a pressure ulcer.
The tool was created 3 decades ago by a medical experts in the health profession to assist nurses with identifying risk in patients who may be susceptible to pressure sores.
The Braden Scale was further expanded on to create the Braden Q Scale which does the same thing as the Braden Scale, but for children.
Before the Braden Scale and the Braden Q Scale, other less effective methods like the Norton Scale were used.
The Braden Scale uses 6 criteria with each one scored on a scale with 23 being no risk while 6 means severe risk.
The 6 criteria that are ranked are:
◊ Nutrition
◊ Friction
◊ Moisture
◊ Activity
◊ Sensory Perception
◊ Mobility
When these are assessed there is a higher chance that the susceptibility of a pressure sore can be identified early on and treated because both primary and secondary causes of sores are addressed with the Braden Scale for Adults and the Braden Q Scale for children.
What Is The Braden Q Scale?
Like the Braden Scale, the Braden Q Scale was made to help with identifying and treating early on pressure sores.
Pressure sores come mostly to those in nursing homes or hospitals and anyone who is laying in a single position for long periods of time.
When this happens, the skin is susceptible to deterioration because of the constant pressure that it is under due to the person’s body weight pressing down on places like the buttocks, back and heels of the foot.
While the Braden Scale assesses 6 factors, the Braden Q Scale assesses 7 which includes the 6 originally seen in the Braden Scale, but adds a 7th criteria which is tissue perfusion and oxygenation.
The Braden Q Scale was created 10 years after the original Braden Scale was created with pediatric patients in mind.
Braden Q Scale Utility
The Braden Q Scale is a highly useful tool that can and should be used for patients in hospitals when they first enter into a facility, any time they are transferred to a new facility and upon discharge from a facility,
Additionally, this scale should be used at different intervals while the patient is in care at a facility to ensure that they are not developing any of the early signs of a pressure wound on their body.
Young children have delicate skin which means they can easily develop pressure sores when their skin and nutrition are not cared for so daily use of this scale can help identify and prevent a pressure sore at stage I when used properly.
This is an evidence based tool that can help reduce and mitigate pressure injuries in children and has been found to be effective and highly useful for patients who are between 3 weeks of age and eight years of age.
Help With Braden Scale & Braden Q Scale
If a child under eight years old is bed-bound, they are clearly dealing with traumatic issues and need no additional suffering.
Development of a pressure wound will further complicate the child’s health and deteriorate their expected progress and potential discharge.
The Braden Q Scale helps ensure that does not happen. If, nonetheless, that did happen, someone dropped the ball (i.e., was medically negligent).
That someone must be held accountable so that your child’s suffering does not end in vein.
To recruit my assistance or have me review your medical records in an abundance of caution, send me an email or call me 24/7.
Warmly,
Reza Davani, Esq.
State Bar No.: #1212110211
Federal Bar No.: #30168
Cellphone: (301) 922-4598
Email: reza@nursinghometruth.com
Pressure Ulcer Legal Library
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Supporting Literature, Citations & Resources:
Vocci, M. C., Fontes, C. M. B., & Abbade, L. P. F. (2018). Pressure injury in the pediatric population: cohort study using the Braden Q scale. Advances in skin & wound care, 31(10), 456-461.
Liao, Y., Gao, G., & Mo, L. (2018). Predictive accuracy of the Braden Q Scale in risk assessment for paediatric pressure ulcer: A meta-analysis. International journal of nursing sciences, 5(4), 419-426.
Lu, Y. F., Yang, Y., Wang, Y., Gao, L. Q., Qiu, Q., Li, C., & Jin, J. (2015). Predicting pressure ulcer risk with the Braden Q Scale in Chinese pediatric patients in ICU. Chinese Nursing Research, 2(1), 1-5.
Riccioni, N., Berlanga, R., Hagan, J., Schier, R., & Gordon, M. (2019). Interrater reliability of the Braden and Braden Q by Skin Champion nurses. Journal of pediatric nursing, 44, 9-15.
de Lima, E. L., de Brito, M. J. A., de Souza, D. M. S. T., Salome, G. M., & Ferreira, L. M. (2016). Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the neonatal/infant Braden Q risk assessment scale. Journal of tissue viability, 25(1), 57-65.
About the Author
This nursing home and medical malpractice article was written by Baltimore, Maryland nursing home attorney Reza Davani, Esquire. Mr. Davani received his Juris Doctor degree from a Tier 1 law school, the University of Maryland Francs King Carey School of Law. He received his first license to practice law from the State of Maryland’s Court of Appeals (MD State License No. 1212110211), and just four months later received a federal law license from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Federal License No. 30168).
Mr. Davani has been practicing law for over 10 years. He began practicing law by helping clients as a sanctioned student lawyer before receiving his law license, and second chaired his first jury trial in federal court before even graduating law school. He is a registered member of the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ), the American Bar Association (ABA), the American Association for Justice (AAJ), and was formerly on the MAJ’s Legislative Leader’s Circle.
Mr. Davani has taken over 20 cases to trial in state and federal court, and favorably settled well over 100 cases for injured victims. He has personally helped his clients recover over $25,000,000 in personal injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse settlements and verdicts in Maryland and other states. He is dedicated to fighting for justice, and welcomes the opportunity to help you.
About the Nurse Consultant
La kesha Dillard, started her nursing career in 1994 as a Home Health Aide (HHA). She enjoyed working with people so much that she earned her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She attended Trocaire College and completed both (the LPN and RN) programs where she earned her LPN/RN AAS degree. She was motivated to further her education and in 2016 she received her baccalaureate degree in nursing from Daemen College Amherst, NY. In 2019 she successfully completed Chamberlain College of Nursing, Nurse Executive and Leadership program, and earned a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
Mrs. Dillard wanted to learn more about the business side of nursing, so she attended Devry University and received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 2023.
In 2021, she successfully completed the Vicky Millazo program where she earned her certification as a Legal Nurse consultant. She opened up her nurse consulting business in 2022 and is the proud owner, founder/CEO at Mrs. RN Consulting, LLC. La kesha has consulted and worked with many attorneys by helping them understand the medical records to get justice for their clients. She has worked at several Long-Term Care facilities (LTC), medical surge units and has several years of experience with patient care and consulting.
She is a strong advocate for patients and believes in Person-Centered Care (PCC) at all times. La kesha is also a tough upholder for staff rights, and she continues to motivate nurse entrepreneurs to further their education in nursing.
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