Answer to Question 1
B, C, D, E
Assessment of the skin includes both visual and tactile inspection. Assess for hyperemia and abnormal reactive hyperemia (when the skin turns red after an obstruction of blood flow returns and vasodilatation causes the tissue to turn red). Assess for indurated (hardened) areas on the skin and palpate reddened areas for blanching. Changes in temperature can indicate changes in blood flow to that area of the skin. Mobility and nutritional status are certainly part of the overall assessment for pressure ulcer risk but are not part of the actual skin assessment.
Answer to Question 2
C
It is ideal to attempt perioperative education before admission, during the hospital stay, and after discharge. Including family members in perioperative education is advisable. Often a family member is a coach for postoperative exercises when the patient returns from surgery. If anxious relatives do not understand routine postoperative events, it is likely that their anxiety will heighten the patient's fears and concerns. Perioperative preparation of family members before surgery helps to minimize anxiety and misunderstanding. An additional person is needed at the appointment if at all possible, and he or she needs to be involved in the process, not just waiting in the waiting room; however, it is certainly not a requirement for actually completing the surgery that someone comes to this appointment.
World map of the distribution of skin color.
Patient Information Supplied When Scheduling Hospital Admissions
A therapist assisting an amputee patient to regain mobility and strength after amputation.
Cyanosis as shown here at the patient’s fingertips results from a lack of oxygen in the tissues
Distance from Initial Change in Membrane Potential vs. Voltage Change Relative to Initial Change
(a) Chicken pox vesicles. (b) Chicken pox on back of young patient.