Final answer:
A nurse would instruct a family on how to boost the patient in bed to prevent pressure ulcers, which are skin injuries that occur due to prolonged, unrelieved pressure to bony parts of the body, leading to reduced blood flow and tissue necrosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
A home health nurse instructs a family about boosting the patient in bed so that a pressure ulcer type of skin injury will not occur. Skin and its underlying tissue can be affected by excessive pressure, a condition often referred to as bedsores or decubitus ulcers. These are caused by constant, long-term, unrelieved pressure on certain body parts, usually bony areas which reduces blood flow, leading to necrosis. Bedsores are more likely to develop in individuals who are immobile, such as elderly patients with debilitating conditions. Preventative measures such as turning the patients every few hours in hospitals and long-term care facilities are essential to reduce the risk of bedsores, which if left untreated can lead to serious infections and may even be fatal.