The nurse recognizes the importance of assessing the patient's skin as the skin has many protective and adaptive functions which include: (Select all that apply.)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The skin is a waterproof, highly resilient covering that has protective and adaptive properties.Some of the functions include:
•Protection: the skin protects the body from injury from physical, chemical, thermal, and light wave sources.
•Barrier: the skin stops the invasion of microorganisms and loss of water and electrolytes from within the body.
•Temperature regulation: the skin allows heat dissipation through sweat glands and heat storage through subcutaneous insulation.
•Wound repair: the skin allows cell replacement of surface wounds.
•Absorption and excretion: the skin allows limited excretion of some metabolic wastes, by-products of cellular decomposition such as minerals, sugars, amino acids, cholesterol, uric acid, and urea.
(See Function of the Skin).

The Nurse Recognizes the Importance of Assessing the Patient's Skin