Health Assessment

Student Laboratory Guide
Chapter 10: Skin, Hair, and Nails

With your lab partner assuming the role of a client, conduct a focused history and examination. Your
“student client” may role-play a client with a particular symptom involving the skin, hair, or nails.

History

Date:

Name: Gender:

M F

Age: Race: LMP:

Occupation:

Source of Data:

Immunizations:

Allergies/Reactions:

Presenting Problem (check all that apply):

Pruritus Rash Lesion Pain/discomfort to skin

Changes in
hair

Change in skin
color

Change in skin
texture

Wounds

Changes in
nails

Other: ___

Symptom Analysis of Presenting Problem (onset, location, duration, characteristics, aggravating and
alleviating factors, related symptoms, treatment)

Present Health Status (include medications, dose, and frequency)

Past Medical and Surgical History (include description and dates)

Family History

Social Habits

Mosby items and derived items © 2009, 2005, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Chapter 10 Skin, Hair, and Nails Page 2

Examination

Examination Technique Findings (document findings below)

Skin

INSPECT the skin for general color.
INSPECT the skin for localized variations in

skin color.

PALPATE the skin for texture, temperature,
moisture, mobility, turgor, and thickness.

Special Circumstances or Advanced Practice

INSPECT and PALPATE the skin for lesions.
o Primary Lesions
o Secondary Lesions
o Vascular Lesions

Skin

Hair

INSPECT and PALPATE the scalp and hair
for surface characteristics, hair, distribution,
texture, quantity, and color.

INSPECT facial and body hair for
distribution, quantity, and texture.

Hair

Nails

INSPECT and PALPATE the nails for shape,
contour, consistency, color, thickness, and
cleanliness.

INSPECT for artificial nails.

Nails

Mosby items and derived items © 2009, 2005, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Chapter 10 Skin, Hair, and Nails Page 3

Diagnoses and Collaborative Problems
Based on the subjective and objective data collected above, identify applicable nursing diagnoses and
collaborative problems.

Diagnoses Collaborative Problems

Mosby items and derived items © 2009, 2005, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

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