When assessing a patient's skin,what does the nurse need to know?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Moisture on the surface of the skin serves as a medium for bacterial growth and causes irritation,softens epidermal cells,and leads to skin maceration.When restricted from moving freely,dependent body parts are exposed to pressure that reduces circulation to affected tissues.Nurses should know which patients require help to turn and change positions.Patients with paralysis,circulatory insufficiency,or local nerve damage are unable to sense an injury to affected parts of the skin.In patients with limited caloric and protein intake,the skin becomes thinner and less elastic,with loss of subcutaneous tissue,which results in impairment of or delay in wound healing.

When Assessing a Patient's Skin,what Does the Nurse Need to Know