Open Resources for Nursing (Open RN)

Learning Objectives

  • Perform an integumentary assessment including the skin, hair, and nails
  • Modify assessment techniques to reflect variations across the life span and ethnic and cultural variations
  • Document actions and observations
  • Recognize and report significant deviations from norms

Assessing the skin, hair, and nails is part of a routine head-to-toe assessment completed by registered nurses. During inpatient care, a comprehensive skin assessment on admission establishes a baseline for the condition of a patient’s skin and is essential for developing a care plan for the prevention and treatment of skin injuries.[1] Before discussing the components of a routine skin assessment, let’s review the anatomy of the skin and some common skin and hair conditions.

  1. Medline Industries, Inc. (n.d.). Are you doing comprehensive skin assessments correctly? Get the whole picture. https://www.medline.com/skin-health/comprehensive-skin-assessments-correctly-get-whole-picture/#:~:text=A%20comprehensive%20skin%20assessment%20entails,actually%20more%20than%20skin%20deep ↵

License

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14.1 Integumentary Assessment Introduction Copyright © by Open Resources for Nursing (Open RN) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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