NCLEX-PN cheat sheet
Pressure injury stages and Braden bands
The six pressure injury categories, the Braden risk bands and the prevention basics on one page.
Reviewed by a licensed nurse · 25 October 2026
Stages
| Stage | What you see |
|---|---|
| 1 | Intact skin, non-blanchable redness |
| 2 | Partial thickness, exposed dermis, no slough |
| 3 | Full thickness, fat visible |
| 4 | Muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage or bone exposed |
| Unstageable | Slough or eschar hides the base |
| Deep tissue injury | Deep red, maroon or purple, persistent |
Braden bands
| Score | Risk |
|---|---|
| 15 to 18 | Mild |
| 13 to 14 | Moderate |
| 10 to 12 | High |
| 9 or less | Very high |
Prevent
- ·Reposition on the plan of care schedule, 30-degree side-lying.
- ·Float the heels.
- ·Keep skin clean and dry.
- ·Pressure-redistributing surface.
- ·No massage over red bony areas. No ring cushions.
Educational content for exam preparation. It is not clinical guidance and does not replace your facility's policies, current professional guidelines or the advice of a qualified clinician.
boardreadynurse.com · NPIAP: Pressure injury stages