According to current guidelines, which of the following reflects a normal adult blood pressure reading?

Choice A reason: Stage 4 pressure injury involves full-thickness tissue loss with exposed muscle, bone, or tendon, as described with a deep depression and visible bone. This severe stage requires aggressive interventions like debridement or surgery. Accurate staging ensures proper wound care, preventing infection and promoting healing in advanced pressure injuries.

Choice B reason: Stage 3 involves full-thickness loss to subcutaneous tissue, not muscle or bone, unlike the described injury with visible bone (stage 4). Misstaging as 3 underestimates severity, risking inadequate treatments like simple dressings, delaying surgical intervention or infection control critical for deep pressure injuries with bone exposure.

Choice C reason: Stage 1 is intact skin with erythema, not a deep lesion with bone exposure, which is stage 4. Misstaging as 1 grossly underestimates severity, neglecting urgent needs like debridement or antibiotics, risking infection, sepsis, or further tissue loss in severe pressure injuries requiring advanced wound management.

Choice D reason: Stage 2 involves partial-thickness loss with a shallow wound, not deep muscle or bone exposure, as in stage 4. Misstaging as 2 risks inadequate care, like topical treatments instead of surgical intervention, delaying healing and increasing complications like osteomyelitis in severe pressure injuries with visible bone.

Choice A reason: Warm, dry skin is a normal finding, reflecting adequate circulation and hydration, expected in healthy integumentary assessments. It’s not concerning unless accompanied by fever or dehydration. Assuming this is unexpected risks overcomplicating care, diverting focus from actual abnormalities like pressure injuries requiring intervention in skin assessments.

Choice B reason: A clear IV site without drainage is expected, indicating no infection or infiltration. Unexpected findings involve redness or leakage. Assuming this is abnormal risks unnecessary interventions, diverting attention from true integumentary issues like pressure injuries, critical for preventing complications in patients with prolonged IV therapy.

Choice C reason: A stage 1 pressure injury, with non-blanchable erythema, is an unexpected and concerning finding, indicating early tissue damage requiring intervention like repositioning or pressure relief. Unlike normal skin findings, this signals risk of progression, necessitating prompt documentation and care to prevent worsening ulcers in vulnerable patients.

Choice D reason: Skin color consistent with racial heritage is expected and normal, reflecting genetic pigmentation. Unexpected findings involve changes like pallor or cyanosis. Assuming this is abnormal risks misinterpretation, neglecting actual integumentary issues like pressure injuries, critical for accurate assessment and timely intervention in skin health.