Question

67.. The nurse is documenting findings after completing data collection with a patient. What term should the nurse use to document a large area of discoloration from hemorrhage under the skin?

a. Pallor
b. Rubor
c. Petechiae
d. Ecchymosis

Answer 1

A nurse should use the term ecchymosis to document a large area of discoloration from hemorrhage under the skin, as it refers to a larger bruise-like discoloration caused by blood leaking from ruptured vessels.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term that a nurse should use to document a large area of discoloration from hemorrhage under the skin is ecchymosis. Ecchymosis is characterized by a larger area of purple or blue discoloration that occurs when blood leaks out from ruptured blood vessels beneath the skin's surface, which can be indicative of various health issues or physical trauma.

This is different from petechiae, which are small red or purple spots on the skin, and pallor or rubor, which refer to skin paleness or redness, respectively. Ecchymosis refers to the formation of a bruise, which is caused by blood leaking from damaged vessels into the surrounding tissues. It appears as a purplish or bluish discoloration under the skin and is often associated with trauma or injury.