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... which may cause a person to be more vulnerable to complications (Churchill Livingstone's Dictionary of Nursing, 2002, p384). These could include injury, disease, compromised nutritional status or pressure damage. Harrison (2003) describes risk assessment as "an assessment that can identify those at risk, so that steps can be taken to provide appropriate therapeutic treatment." Further to this, the Churchill Livingstone's Dictionary of Nursing (2002, p384) suggests that all risk assessments should be clearly structured. Therefore, an accurate assessment of a client's risk is vital in ensuring that the correct care plan is utilised to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient. Risk assessment and management is an integral part of the nurse's role. The Royal College of Nursing's (RCN, 2002) definition of nursing reinforces the importance of using clinical judgement as a tool when providing care to assist people in maintaining or recovering health. It should also be used to ...