Chapter 5, Problem 5CCS

21-Year-Old Female with Skeletal Injuries

While riding her bike to campus, 21-year-old Liliana Rose was struck by a car. Examination in the Emergency Department reveals several injuries. Relative to her integumentary system, the following comments are noted on her chart:

•Epidermal abrasions of the right lateral upper arm and anterior shoulder.

•A deep, 2-cm laceration extending vertically on right lateral cheek and a horizontal 1-cm laceration on the temple.

•Cyanosis is apparent in her nail beds and lips.

The lacerated areas are cleaned, sutured (stitched), and bandaged by the emergency room (ER) personnel.

5. Two nursing students are discussing wound care, especially for abrasions. “The biggest issue is all the stuff the skin secretes!” one of them complains. “It’s crazy hard to keep a wound clean, and the patient is losing fluid through the abrasions. Plus all that acid! The last thing a wound needs is acid on it! Why hasn’t anyone developed a dressing that can stop skin secretions?”

The other student disagrees. “I don’t think skin would heal as well without its secretions. Doesn’t the body usually know what it’s doing?”

What’s your opinion, and why?