OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of an education programme for 20 registered nurses on the following three areas: nurses' knowledge of pressure ulcer risk and prevention; nursing documentation of ulcer prevention; routine use of prevention strategies. METHOD: The study had a quasi-experimental design. Data were collected immediately before and after the education programme and at eight-month follow-up. To measure knowledge of pressure ulcer management, a questionnaire was distributed to course participants (n = 19) pre- and post-education. Nursing documentation (n = 138) was audited pre- and post-education. To gain information on the routine use of prevention strategies, head nurses (n = 20) were interviewed and the patients' care environment (n = 21) was observed pre-education, while a nurse questionnaire was completed (n = 15) at the eight-month follow-up. RESULTS: In relation to pressure ulcer prevention, nurses' knowledge, documentation and ward routines were unsatisfactory before the education programme. However, the eight-month follow-up showed that 11 nurses (55%) had implemented new ward routines. Documentation was still lacking after the programme, although it was more detailed. CONCLUSION: The education programme succeeded in encouraging and empowering the nurses to change clinical practice.