Which nursing diagnosis is often appropriate for an immobile patient?

• A. Risk for impaired skin integrity.
• B. Risk for infection.
• C. Risk for constipation.
• D. Risk for falls.

Answer: (A)

Sustained pressure on the skin from not being able to move or reposition easily cuts off blood flow to areas over bony prominences, leading to tissue damage. This makes the patient highly vulnerable to skin breakdown, especially over the heels, sacrum, and hips. Because the problem is about potential damage rather than an already open wound, the nursing diagnosis that fits best is a risk for impaired skin integrity. It signals the need for proactive prevention: implementing a turning schedule and pressure-relieving supports, keeping skin clean and dry, inspecting skin daily, ensuring good nutrition and hydration, and addressing moisture or incontinence promptly.

Constipation and falls are important concerns in immobility, and infection risk can be relevant in certain contexts, but the most direct and anticipatory concern linked to immobility is the danger of skin breakdown due to prolonged pressure.