Skin Care for the Elderly

This course will provide participants with a review of the basic safety considerations and guidelines necessary to maintain healthy skin and prevent skin breakdown in elderly clients, patients and residents. This review can be utilized for nursing assistive personnel throughout all healthcare settings, as the safety considerations for skin care do not change according to level of acuity.

​Within this online continuing education course, the participant will review basic anatomy and physiology of the skin, normal changes of ageing and the skin, common skin problems of the elderly or ill, risk factors for skin breakdown, skin breakdown prevention interventions and strategies, improving communication to prevent skin breakdown, identifying the different types of skin breakdown, providing care for someone with impaired skin integrity, documenting and reporting skin impairment, and how to complete incident reporting in a timely and thorough manner.  

Questions? Check out our FAQs page and How Online IV Certification Works!

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

  1. Identify the basic anatomy and physiology of the skin.
  2. Describe normal changes of aging and the skin.
  3. Identify common skin problems of the elderly or ill.
  4. Discuss risk factors that may cause skin breakdown.
  5. Describe several ways to prevent skin breakdown.
  6. Explain how improving communication can prevent impaired skin integrity.
  7. Identify the different types of skin breakdown.
  8. Discuss ways to care for someone with impaired skin integrity.
  9. Describe effective documenting and reporting skin impairment.
  10. Explain how to complete incident reporting in a timely and thorough manner.

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Basic Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin

  • Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin
  • Normal Changes of Ageing and the Skin 

Chapter 2: Common Skin Problems of the Elderly or Ill

  • Skin Dryness
  • Skin Tears
  • Incontinence Associated Dermatitis (IAD)
  • Bruising, Contusions and Hematomas
  • Edema
  • Pressure Ulcers 

Chapter 3:  Skin Breakdown Risk Factors and Prevention

  • Skin Assessment
  • Identifying Risk Factors for Skin Breakdown

Chapter 4: Providing High-Quality Skin Care

  • Caring for Healthy Skin
  • Caring for Impaired Skin
  • Documenting and Reporting Impaired Skin Integrity

Chapter 5: Incident Reporting

  • Completing an Incident Report in a Timely and Thorough Manner

Chapter 6: References

  • California Bill 241
  • Implicit Bias in Healthcare
  • What is Implicit Bias?
  • Implications of Implicit Bias in Healthcare
  • How to Reduce Implicit Bias

Price: $10.00

Contact Hour: 1

Course Author

Damion Keith Jenkins

 Damion Jenkins, RN, MSN is the founder and CEO of a nursing education and consultation company - The Nurse Speak, LLC., where he specializes in the delivery of individualized tutoring, mentoring and consultation services for students, new graduate nurses, and healthcare facilities. Damion is also an adjunct nursing professor, an experienced travel nurse, and an active nurse blogger. 

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Course Accreditation

See our Accreditation Statements page to view our accreditation information.

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