What is the most superficial layer of skin called?

Choice A reason: Limited ability to reposition is a major risk factor for pressure injuries, as immobility increases pressure on bony prominences, reducing blood flow and causing tissue ischemia. This leads to skin breakdown, particularly in bedridden patients, making it a critical factor in pressure ulcer development.

Choice B reason: Requiring stand-by assistance for activities of daily living (ADLs) indicates some mobility, as the patient can perform tasks with supervision. This does not inherently increase pressure injury risk, unlike immobility or moisture, making it the least relevant risk factor among the choices.

Choice C reason: Poor nutritional state is a risk factor for pressure injuries, as malnutrition impairs skin integrity and wound healing. Deficiencies in protein or vitamins reduce tissue resilience, increasing susceptibility to pressure-induced damage, particularly in elderly or debilitated patients.

Choice D reason: Moisture from incontinence, wound drainage, or perspiration softens skin, increasing friction and shear forces, which heighten pressure injury risk. It compromises skin barrier function, promoting maceration and ulceration, making it a significant contributor to pressure ulcer formation.

Choice A reason: Assessment in the nursing process involves collecting subjective and objective data via interviews, physical exams, and observations to inform clinical judgments. This foundational step identifies patient needs, guiding subsequent planning. Accurate data collection ensures comprehensive care, preventing oversight of critical health issues and supporting effective diagnosis and intervention in clinical practice.

Choice B reason: Using problem-solving to prioritize outcomes and develop interventions describes the planning step, not assessment. Assessment focuses on data collection, not goal-setting. Assuming this misaligns with the nursing process, risking premature intervention without thorough data, which could lead to ineffective care plans or missed health issues in patient management.

Choice C reason: Assessing goal effectiveness and adjusting interventions pertains to the evaluation step, not assessment. Assessment gathers data to identify needs, not evaluate outcomes. Misidentifying this risks skipping data collection, leading to incomplete assessments and inappropriate interventions, compromising patient safety and care quality in the nursing process.

Choice D reason: Using clinical judgment to formulate problems is part of diagnosis, not assessment. Assessment collects raw data, while diagnosis analyzes it to identify issues. Assuming this conflates steps, risking incomplete data collection, which could result in inaccurate diagnoses and ineffective care plans, undermining the systematic approach of the nursing process.