The importance of nursing care in preventing pressure injuries in hospitalized patients: an integrative review

Abstract

Pressure injury (PI) is a frequent adverse event among hospitalized patients, associated with pain, infection, longer hospital stays and higher costs, and it ranks among the incidents most often reported by Brazilian health services. Because it is largely preventable, its occurrence is regarded as an indicator of the quality of nursing care. This study aimed to analyze, in the scientific literature, the role of nursing in preventing PI in hospitalized patients. It is an integrative review whose guiding question was built with the PICo strategy. Searches were carried out in SciELO and LILACS, supplemented by Google Scholar, covering publications from 2022 to 2026. Of the 58 pre-selected studies, seven made up the final sample, which was analyzed by thematic grouping. Results were organized into three categories: risk assessment and individualized care planning; preventive measures and skin protection technologies; and knowledge of nursing professionals and students. Interventions with favorable evidence included regular repositioning, pressure redistribution surfaces, multilayer silicone foam dressings and nutritional supplementation. Studies on knowledge showed performance below the adequate level, even among intensive care nurses. Prevention depends on combining systematic risk assessment, use of the Nursing Process, rational use of technologies and continuing education of the team.