Nursing Care Tips: Bruises and Cuts

The elderly and people with disabilities are vulnerable to skin illnesses due to changes that happen as a person ages. Skin health can also be influenced by:

• medical conditions;
• pain;
• depression;
• confusion; and/or
• injury.

Caregivers and nurse aides should learn from their Healthcare Education the importance of routinely checking a patient’s skin for any changes and report these changes to the supervisor. Early intervention is very important in maintaining a patient’s health.

Bruises

A bruise happens when blood from damaged blood vessels collects near the surface of the skin resulting in a discoloration of the skin. Students from a CNA School in Park Ridge, Illinois should recognize signs such as black and blue marks in the patient’s skin.

Unexplained bruises that occur for no apparent reason may be a sign of a bleeding disorder, especially if the bruising is characterized by nosebleeds or bleeding gums. Bruises in the elderly frequently occur due to thinner skin that goes with aging. The tissues that sustain the underlying blood vessels are more fragile as a person ages.

Cuts

Cuts (laceration) refers to a skin wound. Bleeding can be usually stopped by applying direct pressure over the wound using a clean cloth. Here are some reminders to nursing aides:

• If the cut is on an arm or a leg, elevate the extremity;
• Wash the area with soap and water to help reduce the risk of infection;
• Cover the cut with an adhesive bandage; and
• Make a record of cuts and report cases to your supervisor.

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