Patients’ development of pressure ulcers is a major concern for clinicians in both hospitals and community health care settings. Pressure ulcers can cause pain, prolong hospital stays, and, in severe cases, contribute to death. According to a review of the literature performed by Armstrong et al1 in 2001, the cost of treating pressure ulcers in the United States was more than $1 billion dollars annually. Many pressure ulcers originate in the OR 1,2 Pressure ulcers have been called by many names, including decubitus ulcers, bed sores, pressure sores, and dermal ulcers; however, they are commonly defined as “localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear.”3 It is important to understand the difference between the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcer incidence is the rate of occurrence of new ulcers over a period of time; prevalence is the number of old and new ulcers present at any one time. Risk assessment involves using a comprehensive approach to assessing the patient’s skin and evaluating factors associated with pressure ulcer development. Pressure ulcers often occur in patients