During a routine bedside assessment, what should you check on the skin over bony prominences?

During a routine bedside assessment, what should you check on the skin over bony prominences?

• A. Redness or breakdown and report as needed.
• B. Hair color.
• C. Temperature of the forehead.
• D. Nail color.

Answer: (A)

Check the skin over bony prominences for redness or breakdown because these are early indicators of pressure-related skin damage. These areas endure more pressure, friction, and moisture, so identifying nonblanching redness or any breakdown promptly allows immediate actions to prevent a full-thickness injury. If you notice redness that persists or worsens, report it right away so a care plan can be adjusted—reposition the patient to relieve pressure, keep the skin clean and dry, use barrier creams as appropriate, and monitor closely for progression. The other signs—hair color, forehead temperature, and nail color—don’t reflect the integrity of the skin over these sites and aren’t useful for assessing risk or early injury in this context.

Check the skin over bony prominences for redness or breakdown because these are early indicators of pressure-related skin damage. These areas endure more pressure, friction, and moisture, so identifying nonblanching redness or any breakdown promptly allows immediate actions to prevent a full-thickness injury. If you notice redness that persists or worsens, report it right away so a care plan can be adjusted—reposition the patient to relieve pressure, keep the skin clean and dry, use barrier creams as appropriate, and monitor closely for progression. The other signs—hair color, forehead temperature, and nail color—don’t reflect the integrity of the skin over these sites and aren’t useful for assessing risk or early injury in this context.