A dark-skinned patient has been admitted to the hospital with chronic heart failure. How would the nurse best assess this patient for cyanosis?
a. Assess the skin color of the earlobes.
b. Apply pressure to the palms of the hands.
c. Check the lips and oral mucous membranes.
d. Examine capillary refill time of the nail beds.
ANS: C
Cyanosis in dark-skinned individuals is more easily seen in the mucous membranes. Earlobe color may change in light-skinned individuals, but this change in skin color is difficult to detect on darker skin. Application of pressure to the palms of the hands and nail bed assessment would check for adequate circulation but not for skin color.
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