To document education about skin care for a patient with spinal cord injury, which statement demonstrates understanding?

To document education about skin care for a patient with spinal cord injury, which statement demonstrates understanding?

• A. Is unable to tolerate more than 1 hour in a wheelchair
• B. Has good strength of the scapular depressors and elbow extensors
• C. Is able to state 3 causes of skin breakdown
• D. Is able to perform 10 push-ups in the wheelchair

Answer: (C)

Understanding what contributes to skin breakdown and how to prevent it is the key idea being tested. Being able to name three causes shows the patient can identify the risk factors that lead to pressure injuries and articulate how to address them in daily care. For someone with spinal cord injury, recognizing factors like prolonged pressure, friction or shear, moisture from incontinence, and nutrition or tissue health is essential for effective skin care education. Other statements focus on physical abilities or endurance rather than knowledge about skin integrity and prevention. Tolerance to time in a wheelchair, specific muscle strength, or the ability to perform push-ups doesn’t directly reflect understanding of skin care risks or preventive strategies.

Understanding what contributes to skin breakdown and how to prevent it is the key idea being tested. Being able to name three causes shows the patient can identify the risk factors that lead to pressure injuries and articulate how to address them in daily care. For someone with spinal cord injury, recognizing factors like prolonged pressure, friction or shear, moisture from incontinence, and nutrition or tissue health is essential for effective skin care education.

Other statements focus on physical abilities or endurance rather than knowledge about skin integrity and prevention. Tolerance to time in a wheelchair, specific muscle strength, or the ability to perform push-ups doesn’t directly reflect understanding of skin care risks or preventive strategies.