Skin Integrity

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Specializes in ICU, Med-Surg, Post-op, Same-Day Surgery.

Hi all. We are covering our first unit on hygiene and skin care in our skills lab, and one question is kind of throwing me off. If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it! Thanks!

List 3 reasons why it is important to maintain skin integrity?

My answers

1) defense against infection (protection)

2) awareness of touch, pain, heat, cold, and pressure

3) control of body temperature

I picked these answers because they were listed after skin integrity was mentioned. However, our book is NOT clear when it comes to defining terms or associated topics.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

from page 537 of saunders comprehensive review for the nclex-rn examination, 3rd edition, by linda anne silvestri:

"functions of the skin:

    1. the skin is the first line of defense against infections.

    2. the skin protects underlying tissues and organs from injury.

    3. the skin receives stimuli from the external environment; detects touch, pressure, pain, and temperature stimuli; and relays that information to the nervous system.

    4. the skin maintains normal body temperature.

    5. the skin excretes salts, water, and organic wastes.

    6. the skin protects the body from excessive water loss.

    7. the skin synthesizes vitamin d3, which converts to calcitriol, for normal calcium metabolism.

    8. the skin stores nutrients."

    another resource i have (pages 77-78, modern medical language, by c. edward collins and juanita j. davies, west publishing company, 1996) simply says that the skin:

    • acts as a barrier against water and bacteria
    • helps to regulate body temperature through the dilation or constriction of blood vessels in the dermis
    • assists in sensory reception from the internal and external environment due to the presence of nerves in the skin
    • contains hair follicles whose function is to provide protection to the skin
    • contains glands that secrete substances (sweat, sebum and wax) to the surface of the skin
    • the subcutaneous layer provides padding, shock absorption and insulation to the underlying organs

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