Integumentary Assessment

Why this is important

You will learn the process and importance of performing a generalized assessment of the skin, hair and
nails. You will be able to identify and characterize normal/abnormal skin variations using a specified
format. You will be able to identify variations due to age, race, gender, culture and developmental stage.
What you will learn to do
Perform an integumentary assessment
Knowledge and skills you will learn along the way
This learning plan addresses the following learning objectives to help you master the competency
a. !efine key terms.
b. "eview normal anatomy of the integumentary system
c. #ist pertinent $uestions to ask a patient in order to collect subjective data regarding the
integumentary system.
d. %utline the steps of assessing the integumentary system.
e. !escribe variations in skin determined by race/ethnicity
f. !escribe how to assess skin lesions in terms of symmetry, border, color, size and elevation
&'()!*+ as well as the arrangement of lesions
g. ,dentify risk factors for skin cancer
h. *-plain the purpose for the use of and how to complete the (raden .kin .cale
i. !istinguish the stages of pressure ulcers
j. !escribe the characteristics of normal hair in terms of distribution, $uantity, te-ture and color
k. *-plain how the characteristics of color, shape, and te-ture of nails suggest disease entities
l. !istinguish between normal and abnormal findings.
m. !escribe developmental and cultural differences to take into consideration.
n. *-plain how to properly document findings.
Learning Activities
a. P"*/,*0 the Performance .tandards and #earning %bjectives for this competency outlined
above.
b. "*'! 1arvis chapter 23 &.kin, 4air, and 5ails+
c. /,*0 or "*'! a presentation on integumentary assessment
d. /,*0 a demonstration of an integumentary assessment
e. P"')T,)* an integumentary assessment on a peer
Assessment Activities
a. !*6%5.T"'T* satisfactory completion of performance check off
b. !%)76*5T findings of the integumentary assessment on flowsheet and/or nursing notes and
submit for evaluation
c. !*6%5.T"'T* ability to apply knowledge by completing an e-am.