Question

During a health history, the nurse observes a small area of skin excoriation around the rings that a client is wearing on the right hand. What question should the nurse ask the client at this time?

1) Are you experiencing any associated symptoms, such as itching?
2) How often is your skin exposed to direct sunlight?
3) Did this problem start when you began wearing these rings?
4) Have you made any changes to your diet recently?

Answer 1

The best question for a nurse to ask when a small area of skin excoriation is observed around rings is whether the problem started with the wearing of the rings, suggesting a relationship with contact dermatitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of a nursing assessment, if a nurse observes an area of skin excoriation around the rings a client is wearing, the most appropriate question to ask would be: "Did this problem start when you began wearing these rings?" This question directly addresses the possible relationship between the wear of the jewelry and the skin issue observed, which could indicate a form of contact dermatitis. The nurse could also consider asking about any associated symptoms like itching, as it might provide further clues to the nature of the skin excoriation. However, the association with the rings should be the first consideration.