Amber is a nursing student who works for a medical unit in the hospital. One of her job duties as a student nurse is to bathe patients. One of the patients she is responsible for, Mrs. Jones, is a 79-year-old patient with diabetes with fragile skin

Question

Which of the following will most likely not cause Mrs. Jones to experience impaired skin integrity? A. Daily bathing
B. Inadequate fluid and nutrition
C. Turning and repositioning
D. Use of superfatted soap

Answer 1

D
With age the skin loses its resiliency and moisture, and sebaceous and sweat glands become less active. These changes often lead to dry, cracked skin. Daily bathing, inadequate fluid and nutri-tion, and the use of some soap products can cause the skin of an older adult to become too dry. As the epithelium thins and elastic collagen fibers shrink, the skin becomes fragile and subject to bruising and breaking. Activities such as turning and repositioning and washing the skin and perineal tissues can cause impaired skin integrity.