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Skin Assessment in Patients with Dark Skin Tone.
Eleonor Pusey-Reid1, Lisa Quinn, Mary E Samost
1Eleonor Pusey-Reid is an associate professor, Lisa Quinn is an assistant professor, Mary E. Samost is an assistant professor, and Patricia A. Reidy is a professor and associate dean of graduate programs and community engagement, all in the School of Nursing at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston. Samost is also executive director for perioperative services at Mass General Brigham-Salem Hospital in Salem, MA. Contact author: Eleonor Pusey-Reid, epusey@mghihp.edu . The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Nurses need more education on assessing dark skin tones to address health disparities. This article provides essential information and calls for improved nursing education and practice for effective skin assessments in all patients.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Dermatology
- Health Equity
Background:
- Limited nursing literature exists on assessing integumentary and general health issues in individuals with dark skin tones.
- Nurses require specialized knowledge to effectively care for diverse patient populations and reduce health disparities.
- Current educational materials inadequately prepare nursing professionals for comprehensive skin assessments across all skin tones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the scarcity of educational resources for assessing dark skin tones in nursing.
- To provide foundational information on dark skin assessment for nursing faculty, students, and clinicians.
- To advocate for enhanced academic and professional practice standards for skin assessment in all patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on existing nursing educational materials concerning dark skin assessment.
- Analysis of common and serious integumentary and general health issues presenting in dark skin tones.
- Development of basic information for nursing education on dark skin assessment.
Main Results:
- A significant gap in nursing literature and educational resources for assessing dark skin tones was identified.
- Essential information for the assessment of dark skin is presented to bridge knowledge gaps.
- The need for targeted educational interventions in nursing academia and practice is emphasized.
Conclusions:
- Improved educational resources and training are crucial for nurses to effectively assess dark skin.
- Addressing this educational deficit is vital for reducing health disparities and promoting health equity.
- Academic institutions and professional nursing organizations must prioritize the integration of comprehensive skin assessment training for all nurses.
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