Skin Assessment in Patients with Dark Skin Tone

There is a scarcity of nursing literature, studies, and educational materials on the assessment and early recognition of both common and serious integumentary and general health issues in people with dark skin tones. Nurses must be exposed to such learning resources to be adequately prepared to care for patients with diverse skin tones and to help reduce health disparities and promote health equity. This article provides faculty, nursing students, and clinicians with basic information about the assessment of dark skin tone and calls for action in academia and professional practice to ensure nurses and nursing students can effectively perform skin assessments in all patients.