Nicole Peterson is a very thin 80-year-old woman who is in the hospital after fracturing her hip

Nicole Peterson is a very thin 80-year-old woman who is in the hospital after fracturing her hip. Her hip was surgically repaired four days ago, but her recovery is slower than usual because of her overall fragile health and some post-surgery confusion. One of her nursing diagnoses is self-care deficits related to weakness, pain, alteration in cognitive functioning, and impaired mobility. Her nursing orders (NIC) include self-care assistance: bathing/hygiene/toileting.

As the nurse helps an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) with Mrs. Peterson’s bath, she notices a reddened area on her sacrum. Realizing that this may be the beginning of a pressure injury, the nurse examines the area carefully and notes a small skin excoriation in the area. She repositions Mrs. Peterson to prevent further pressure on her sacrum. After finishing the bath, the nurse records her findings and enters on Mrs. Peterson’s care plan a nursing diagnosis of impaired skin integrity related to mechanical forces (e.g., shearing forces, pressure, physical immobility), alteration in skin turgor, and pressure over a bony prominence as evidenced by reddened area on the skin. She writes nursing orders, including an order to observe skin over bony prominences every 4 hours, and then delegates to the UAP the task of turning and repositioning Mrs. Peterson every 2 hours. The nurse also places Mrs. Peterson on a pressure-relief mattress and obtains a foam cushion for her wheelchair.

What reassessments would you make to evaluate Mrs. Peterson’s skin integrity problem? When evaluating the diagnosis of self-care deficit, what reassessments would you make? Who can or should evaluate the issues identified? How often, or when, would you reassess?