Common Skin Disorders: Assessment
▫ Present health status
▫ Past medical history
▫ Inspection of the entire skin for color and lesions
▫ Palpate skin for temperature, texture, moisture, and turgor
Common Skin Disorders
• Most treated by self-care at home • Focus of treatment is identifying, modifying, or eliminating precipitating factors • Diagnosis ▫ Culture ▫ Skin scrapings ▫ Biopsy ▫ Ultrasound tests
Infections/ Infestations: Assessment
▫ History of contact
▫ Living conditions
▫ Chronic illnesses
▫ Inspect skin, hair, mucous membranes Note location, appearance, and size of lesions
Infections/ Infestations
Infections/ Infestations: Treatment
• Parasitic infestations
▫ Topical agents to kill the parasite
• Complementary therapy
▫ Tea tree oil
Infections/ Infestations: Treatment
• Bacterial infections
▫ Antibiotics—topically or systemically
• Fungal infections
▫ Antifungal agents—topically or systemically
• Viral infections
▫ Antiviral agents
▫ Medications to relieve pain and pruritis
Infections/ Infestations: Nursing Care
Atopic Dermatitis
Psoriasis
Common Skin Disorders
• Pruritis - medications and treatments ▫ Antihistamines ▫ Tranquilizers—stress related to pruritis ▫ Antibiotics ▫ Topical steroids ▫ Therapeutic baths
Common Skin Disorders
Complimentary therapy
▫ Aloe
▫ Goldenseal
▫ Peppermint oil
Common Skin Disorders: Nursing Care
• Impaired Skin Integrity ▫ Strategies to relieve itching ▫ Therapeutic baths • Disturbed Body Image ▫ Trusting relationship ▫ Self-perception ▫ Involvement of family • Deficient Knowledge ▫ Medication administration
Pressure Ulcers
Pressure Ulcers: Assessment
▫ Identify patients at risk
▫ Describe appearance
▫ Measure size and depth
▫ Braden Skin Assessment
Skin Breakdown
Pressure Ulcers: Nursing Care
• Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity ▫ Minimize risk ▫ Conduct systematic inspection ▫ Keep skin clean and manage incontinence ▫ Minimize environmental factors ▫ Minimize friction and shearing forces
Pressure Ulcers: Nursing Care
▫ Maintain adequate nutritional intake ▫ Maintain activity level ▫ Teach client to shift weight ▫ Use positioning devices, pillows ▫ Keep head of bed at lowest position ▫ Use specialty devices
Skin Disorders: Teaching
Phases of Burn Management
Prehospital Care
• Remove the person from the source of the burn and stop the burning process
• The caregiver must be protected from becoming part of the incident
• Electrical Injuries
- Remove client from contact of source
• Chemical Injuries
- Brush solid particles off the skin - Water lavage
Prehospital Care
• Small Thermal Burns
- Cover with clean, cool, tap water- dampened towel
• Large Thermal Burns
- Airway, breathing, and circulation
• Wound Care
- Do not immerse in cool water or pack with ice
- Wrap in clean, dry sheet or blanket - Remove burned clothing
Emergent Phase
Emergent Phase Nursing and Collaborative Management: Airway Management
Emergent Phase Nursing and Collaborative Management: Fluid Therapy