14.1 Integumentary Assessment Introduction
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.
- 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. ↵