What is the standard turning schedule for a patient at high risk of pressure injuries when in bed, and how should this change when the patient is seated?

• A. Turn the patient every 2 hours in bed; when seated, perform pressure relief/weight shifts at least every 15 minutes and use appropriate cushions.
• B. Turn the patient every 4 hours in bed; when seated, perform pressure relief every 60 minutes with no cushions.
• C. Turn the patient every 1 hour in bed; when seated, ignore pressure relief needs.
• D. Turn only on request; seated adjustments are optional.

Answer: (A)

Regular relief of pressure is essential to prevent tissue injury. In bed, turning every 2 hours relieves ongoing pressure on vulnerable areas like the sacrum, heels, and trochanters, reducing the duration of ischemia and shear. When the patient is seated, the load shifts to the buttocks and thighs, so pressure relief or weight shifts are needed much more frequently—at least every 15 minutes—and should be paired with a appropriate seating cushion to distribute pressure and reduce peak forces.

This approach aligns with preventing pressure injuries by actively shortening the time tissues spend under load and using cushioning to offload high-pressure points. The other schedules either delay relief, ignore seated needs, or omit supportive cushions, which would increase risk.