ATI FUNDAMENTALS- TISSUE INTEGRITY Flashcards
LARGEST ORGAN SYSTEM OF THE BODY
SKIN
SKIN ACCOUNTS FOR WHAT % OF TOTAL BODY WEIGHT
15
The main function of the skin is
to provide a barrier against injury, infection, ultraviolet radiation (UV), and fluctuations in temperature changes.
The skin plays an important role in
the perception of touch, pain, pressure, and vibration.
3 LAYERS OF SKIN
the epidermis, the dermis, and a fatty subcutaneous layer of adipose tissue.
epidermis
The outer most layer of the skin, made of squamous epithelial cells, which provides a barrier against the external environment.
keratinocytes
Cells formed in the basal layer of the skin that function to protect the skin from the external environment.
WHEN KERATINOCYTES LEAVE THE BASAL LAYER, WHERE DO THEY MIGRATE
THE MORE SUPERFICIAL LAYERS WHERE THEY DIE IN TIME ARE REMOVED THROUGH SHEDDING
CELLS FOUND IN THE EPIDERMIS
MELANOCYTES
KERATINOCYTES
MERKEL CELLS
LANGERHANS
MELANOCYTES PRODUCE
MELANIN
MELANIN
a pigment that determines the color of the hair and skin. Melanin also absorbs radiant energy from the sun and protects the skin from harmful UV rays.
MERKEL CELLS
detect light touch, especially in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
LANGERHANS CELLS
ingest and package foreign antigens to be presented to lymphocytes, which then trigger an immune response in the epidermis.
DERMIS
UNDER THE EPIDERMIS
is composed of connective tissues along with capillaries, blood vessels, and lymph vessels.
FUNCTIONS OF THE DERMIS
sustains and supports the epidermis by providing strength, flexibility, and nourishment. The dermis also protects underlying structures from injury and assists with wound healing.
COLLAGEN AND ELASTIN FIBERS OF THE DERMIS
PROVIDE STRENGTH AND ELASTICITY
PROTECTS FROM COMPROMISED INTEGRITY
SUBCUTANEOUS LAYER
MOSTLY ADIPOSE TISSUE
INNERMOST LAYER
CONTAINS BLOOD VESSELS AND NERVES THAT ASSIST IN THERMOREGULATION AND SENSATION
FUNCTIONS OF THE SUBCUTANEOUS LAYER
insulates the body, absorbs shock, and pads the internal organs and structures
A nurse is teaching a group of older adults at a community center about the functions of the skin. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A
The skin plays an important role in the production of vitamin D.
B
The dermis contains cells that help prevent infection.
C
The skin protects against bacteria and viruses.
D
The skin helps regulate the body temperature.
A, C, D
Risk Factors for Impaired Tissue Integrity
TIME- EARLY AND LATE IN LIFE
IMPAIRED MOBILITY
OBESITY
CANCER
CHRONIC ILLNESSES
maceration
An irritation of the epidermis caused by moisture.
COMMON IN INFANCY
DERMATITIS
A red skin irritation that develops when the skin is exposed to irritants such as feces, urine, stoma effluent, and wound exudates. This type of dermatitis is called an irritant dermatitis.
COMMON IN INFANCY
SKIN TEARS
Loss of the top skin layer caused by mechanical forces. The severity of a skin tear is defined by the depth of the skin layer loss.
DUE TO COLLAGEN STORES DECREASE, THIN SKIN, ELASTICITY LOSS
CONGENITAL CONDITIONS THAT PREDISPOSE CLIENTS TO TISSUE INTEGRITY ISSUES
SPINA BIFIDA
CEREBRAL PALSY
LIVER FAILURE
KIDNEY DISEASE
CANCER
SKIN FRAILTY
At-risk vulnerable skin.
The most frequently occurring skin problems associated with skin frailty are
SKIN TEARS, PRESSURE INJURIES, AND INFECTIONS LIKE CELLULITIS
PRESSURE INJURIES
(localized damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue, as a result of a pressure or pressure in combination with shear
CELLULITIS
INFECTION OF THE SUPERFICIAL LAYERS OF SKIN
SKIN CHANGES
NEONATES/CHILDREN
Immature skin
Prolonged duration of pressure
Moisture/maceration
Poor perfusion
SKIN PROBLEMS
NEONATES/CHILDREN
Diaper rash
Skin tears
Pressure injuries
SKIN CHANGES
OLDER ADULTS
Thinning of the skin
Decreased
Elasticity
Subcutaneous tissue
Blood supply
Hydration
SKIN PROBLEMS
OLDER ADULTS
Skin tears
Pressure injuries
Itchy, dry, flaky skin
Skin infections
SKIN CHANGES
DECREASED MOBILITY/PARALYSIS
Reduced blood circulation
Alterations in thermoregulation
Incontinence
Loss of collagen
Muscle atrophy
Impaired sensation
SKIN PROBLEMS
DECREASED MOBILITY/PARALYSIS
Skin tears
Pressure injuries
Skin infection
Incontinence-associated dermatitis
SKIN CHANGES
CLIENTS WHO ARE OBESE
Decreased moisture
Dry skin
Maceration
Elevated skin temperature
Decreased blood and lymphatic flow
SKIN PROBLEMS
CLIENTS WHO ARE OBESE
Skin tears
Pressure injuries
Diabetic ulcers
Moisture lesions
Skin-fold rashes
SKIN CHANGES
CLIENTS WITH CANCER
Radiation resulting in:
Inflammation
Skin surface damage
Decreased blood supply
SKIN PROBLEMS
CLIENTS WITH CANCER
Pressure injuries
Delayed wound healing
Skin infections
Radiation-induced dermatitis
SKIN CHANGES
CLIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES
Skin changes due to:
Hepatic diseases
Renal diseases
Cardiovascular diseases
Malnutrition
Stomas
Psychosocial issues
SKIN PROBLEMS
CLIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES
Skin tears
Pressure injuries
Infections
Moisture associated lesions
doing what is key to promoting optimal skin health
Regularly assessing the skin of clients who are vulnerable to the development of alterations in skin and tissue integrity
major elements of a comprehensive skin assessment
athering the medical history, looking at factors that place clients at risk, and assessing the skin for abrasions, edema, moisture, rashes, and other abnormalities. Skin texture and temperature should also be assessed.
Assessment of the skin and soft tissue is also a key factor in
decreasing the risk of pressure injury formation, classifying wounds, and determining treatment modalities.
pressure injury
Localized damage to the skin and/or the soft underlying tissue, which can be caused from prolonged contact with a firm surface that interferes with circulation to the area.
when should clients undergo skin assessments
admission to a facility and then once daily or once per shift
erythema
Redness of the skin due to dilation of blood vessels.
blanchable erythema
An area of a reddened skin that temporarily turns white or pale when light pressure is applied. the skin then reddens when pressure is relieved.
nonblanchable erythema
Redness of the skin that does not go away when pressure is applied and indicates structural damage has occurred in the small vessels supplying blood to the underlying skin and tissues.
The skin should be palpated for
temperature changes, as inflammation will present as an increase in skin temperature, while areas with decreased blood flow will feel cool to the touch. also for edema
rythema is more difficult to detect in dark-skinned clients, which can lead to
delayed identification of pressure injuries.
special considerations to assessing the skin in obese
Due to the increased pressure caused by the weight of additional abdominal fat, the need to assess for the presence of pressure ulcers between the skin folds. also at risk for moisture related skin disordered and infections
If the client’s condition deteriorates, when should we assess the skin
If the client’s condition deteriorates, an increase in the frequency of skin inspections is recommended.
Pain at the site of pressure points is
a red flag and should be considered a warning sign of pressure injury formation.
wound
A wound is a disruption in the normal composition and performance of the skin and it s underlying structures.
how are wounds classified
acute or chronic based on their origin and healing progression.
intentional origination
acute wounds
created during a surgical procedure
unintentional wound
acute wound
develop as the result of a traumatic injury, such as burns, punctures, or gunshot wounds.
lacerations
traumatic wounds
tears in skin
usually by blunt or sharp objects
often irregular or jagged
classified as simple or complicated
skin tears
common in elderly
from mechanical forces like removing tape from skin
severity defined by depth of skin loss
most common on hands and extremities
classification of surgical wounds
clean
clean contaminated
contaminated
dirty
depends on suspected contamination
Clean and clean-contaminated wounds
ave minimal bacterial loads and are closed at the completion of the procedure.
Contaminated and dirty wounds
have higher bacterial loads that may interfere with healing. In consequence, these wounds may be left open after the procedure and require long-term wound management for healing to occur.
surgical wounds
during surgical process
sterile conditions
mechanically closed
intact/well approximated edges
color of healing surgical wounds
red on days 1 to 4, changes to bright pink on days 5 to 14, and then appears pale pink from day 15 to 1 year after the procedure.
exudate
fluid consisting of plasma that is secreted by the body during the inflammatory phase of healing
scar tissue appearance
Scar tissue that forms on lightly pigmented skin will be white or silver, while scar tissue on darkly pigmented skin will change from pale pink to a darker than usual skin tone.
Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) is
a form of dermatitis that develops when the skin is exposed to irritants such as feces, urine, stoma effluent, and wound exudates. Excessive sweating, increased local skin temperature, abnormal skin pH, and deep skin folds all predispose clients to MASD.
clients with masd may also experience other clinical manifestations, including
pain, burning, and itching. MASD predisposes clients to pressure injury formation.