Shadow Health Hair, Skin and Nails
Assessment Assignment
A nurse is teaching a group of 5th grade children about characteristics of the skin.
Which of the following should she mention? Select all that apply.
a) Aids in maintaining body temperature
b) Involved in digestion of food
c) Circulates blood throughout the body
d) Protects against damage to the body from sunlight
e) Helps make vitamin D in the body
f) Largest organ of the body - answer- Correct response:
• Largest organ of the body
• Protects against damage to the body from sunlight
• Helps make vitamin D in the body
• Aids in maintaining body temperature
Explanation:
The skin is the largest organ of the body. The skin is a physical barrier that protects the
underlying tissues and organs from microorganisms, physical trauma, ultraviolet
radiation, and dehydration. It plays a vital role in temperature maintenance, fluid and
electrolyte balance, absorption, excretion, sensation, immunity, and vitamin D synthesis.
The heart, not the skin, circulates blood throughout the body. The digestive system, not
the skin, is involved in digestion of food
When assessing a client's terminal hair distribution, the nurse inspects all the following
areas except:
a) Limbs
b) Vertex
c) Palmar surfaces
d) Eyebrows - answer- Correct response: Palmar surfaces
Explanation:
The palms are one of the few areas not covered with hair, while the limbs, vertex, and
eyebrows all have terminal hair present.
A patient recovering from a burn injury is told by the health care provider that hair will no
longer grow on the body part that was burned. The nurse realizes that this patient's burn
extended into which skin layer?
a) Dermis
b) Distal phalanx
c) Epidermis
d) Subcutaneous tissue - answer- Correct response: Dermis
, Explanation:
The skin has three layers. The epidermis is the outermost layer and is comprised of
dead keratinized cells and an inner layer that forms melanin and keratin. The dermis
contains connective tissue and hair follicles. If the hair follicles are damaged by a burn,
hair will not regrow. The subcutaneous tissue layer of the skin continues fatty tissue.
The distal phalanx is a bone in the finger.
The terms "generalized," "exposed surfaces," "upper arm," and "skin folds" are used to
describe which major characteristic of skin lesions?
a) Distribution
b) Colour
c) Arrangement
d) Type - answer- Correct response: Distribution
Explanation:
The given terms denote anatomic location, or distribution, of skin lesions over the body.
Upon assessing the skin, the nurse finds pustular lesions on on the face. The nurse
identifies that these could be what?
a) Herpes simplex
b) Varicella
c) Acne
d) Psoriasis - answer- Correct response: Acne
Explanation:
Pustular lesions include acne, furuncles and carbuncles. Varicella and herpes simplex
are vesicular lesions and psoriasis are plaque lesions
The RN should intervene and further educate the nursing assistant when observing
which action?
a) Assisting feeding a client ground chicken with dentures in place
b) Propping a client on the side using pillows under the hip, knees, and shoulder
c) Independently pulling an immobile client up in bed
d) Ambulating a client using a walker in the hallway - answer- Correct response:
Independently pulling an immobile client up in bed
Explanation:
Friction/shear forces are risks to breaks in skin integrity that can occur when pulling a
client up in bed alone. The nursing assistant needs to ask for assistance when
repositioning an immobile client. Assisting with feeding or ambulating, and using pillows
under bony prominences to prevent pressure ulcers are all appropriate nursing assistant
tasks.
A nurse is instructing a client on how to assess himself for herpes simplex lesions by
their configuration. Which configuration should the nurse tell the client to look for?
Assessment Assignment
A nurse is teaching a group of 5th grade children about characteristics of the skin.
Which of the following should she mention? Select all that apply.
a) Aids in maintaining body temperature
b) Involved in digestion of food
c) Circulates blood throughout the body
d) Protects against damage to the body from sunlight
e) Helps make vitamin D in the body
f) Largest organ of the body - answer- Correct response:
• Largest organ of the body
• Protects against damage to the body from sunlight
• Helps make vitamin D in the body
• Aids in maintaining body temperature
Explanation:
The skin is the largest organ of the body. The skin is a physical barrier that protects the
underlying tissues and organs from microorganisms, physical trauma, ultraviolet
radiation, and dehydration. It plays a vital role in temperature maintenance, fluid and
electrolyte balance, absorption, excretion, sensation, immunity, and vitamin D synthesis.
The heart, not the skin, circulates blood throughout the body. The digestive system, not
the skin, is involved in digestion of food
When assessing a client's terminal hair distribution, the nurse inspects all the following
areas except:
a) Limbs
b) Vertex
c) Palmar surfaces
d) Eyebrows - answer- Correct response: Palmar surfaces
Explanation:
The palms are one of the few areas not covered with hair, while the limbs, vertex, and
eyebrows all have terminal hair present.
A patient recovering from a burn injury is told by the health care provider that hair will no
longer grow on the body part that was burned. The nurse realizes that this patient's burn
extended into which skin layer?
a) Dermis
b) Distal phalanx
c) Epidermis
d) Subcutaneous tissue - answer- Correct response: Dermis
, Explanation:
The skin has three layers. The epidermis is the outermost layer and is comprised of
dead keratinized cells and an inner layer that forms melanin and keratin. The dermis
contains connective tissue and hair follicles. If the hair follicles are damaged by a burn,
hair will not regrow. The subcutaneous tissue layer of the skin continues fatty tissue.
The distal phalanx is a bone in the finger.
The terms "generalized," "exposed surfaces," "upper arm," and "skin folds" are used to
describe which major characteristic of skin lesions?
a) Distribution
b) Colour
c) Arrangement
d) Type - answer- Correct response: Distribution
Explanation:
The given terms denote anatomic location, or distribution, of skin lesions over the body.
Upon assessing the skin, the nurse finds pustular lesions on on the face. The nurse
identifies that these could be what?
a) Herpes simplex
b) Varicella
c) Acne
d) Psoriasis - answer- Correct response: Acne
Explanation:
Pustular lesions include acne, furuncles and carbuncles. Varicella and herpes simplex
are vesicular lesions and psoriasis are plaque lesions
The RN should intervene and further educate the nursing assistant when observing
which action?
a) Assisting feeding a client ground chicken with dentures in place
b) Propping a client on the side using pillows under the hip, knees, and shoulder
c) Independently pulling an immobile client up in bed
d) Ambulating a client using a walker in the hallway - answer- Correct response:
Independently pulling an immobile client up in bed
Explanation:
Friction/shear forces are risks to breaks in skin integrity that can occur when pulling a
client up in bed alone. The nursing assistant needs to ask for assistance when
repositioning an immobile client. Assisting with feeding or ambulating, and using pillows
under bony prominences to prevent pressure ulcers are all appropriate nursing assistant
tasks.
A nurse is instructing a client on how to assess himself for herpes simplex lesions by
their configuration. Which configuration should the nurse tell the client to look for?
