The nursing assistant observes the mole on the resident's arm has recently changed. The mole was round, brown, and small. Now it appears irregular, brown, black, red, and larger. What action should the nursing assistant take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best action of the nursing assistant is to report the changes of shape, color, and size of a mole to the nurse immediately. The nurse will perform a thorough assessment and report the findings to the physician for follow-up and treatment. It is beyond the scope of practice for the nursing assistant to decide if changes to a mole are benign or malignant. Waiting for another nursing assistant who has taken care of the resident to ask about the recent changes or only charting the new appearance could delay proper diagnosis and treatment.

The Nursing Assistant Observes the Mole on the Resident's Arm