A nurse is performing a skin assessment on a client who has dark skin.
Which of the following locations on the client’s body should the nurse observe to assess for cyanosis?
A.
Area of trauma.
B.
Sacrum.
C.
Shoulders.
D.
Palms of the hands.
To assess for cyanosis in a client with dark skin, the nurse should observe the:
D. Palms of the hands.
Explanation:
- A. Area of trauma might not be the best place to assess for cyanosis, as trauma can alter skin color in various ways and might not provide an accurate assessment of cyanosis.
- B. Sacrum is less reliable for assessing cyanosis in dark-skinned individuals. The sacral area is not typically the best location for detecting cyanosis.
- C. Shoulders are also not the best location for detecting cyanosis, as skin color changes in the shoulders might be less noticeable due to their exposure and pigmentation variations.
- D. Palms of the hands are a good location for assessing cyanosis in dark-skinned individuals because these areas are less pigmented and the color changes associated with cyanosis are more noticeable. Cyanosis appears as a bluish or purplish tint due to decreased oxygenation, which is more evident in these areas.