Final answer:
The nurse should have the patient use protective eyewear during PUVA therapy to safeguard the eyes from UVA radiation. While UV radiation has beneficial uses in medicine, excessive exposure can harm the skin and eyes, necessitating protective measures during treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
To minimize complications from PUVA (psoralen plus ultraviolet A light) therapy for psoriasis, the nurse should have the patient use protective eyewear while receiving the treatment.
This is because the UV radiation used in the therapy can be harmful to the eyes, so it is essential to provide appropriate protective measures like eyewear specifically designed to block UVA radiation.
Other options such as cleansing the skin with antiseptic soap, shielding unaffected areas with lead-lined drapes, or applying petroleum jelly to areas surrounding the lesions are not standard protective measures in the context of PUVA therapy.
UV radiation has beneficial applications, such as vitamin D production in the skin and treatment of certain medical conditions like infantile jaundice, but it also comes with risks. Overexposure can cause damage to the skin and eyes. Therefore, protection against UVA is crucial during PUVA therapy.