RN Exam Practice
Physiological AdaptationQuestion 130 of 2368

The nurse is checking a client with dark skin pigmentation for a Stage 1 pressure injury. Which assessment approach is best?

  1. Compare the area to the surrounding skin for pain, firmness, softness, and temperature or color change
  2. Look only for redness that does not blanch when the area is pressed firmly with a finger
  3. Wait for an open wound to appear on the skin before staging the pressure injury
  4. Check only for drainage and odor coming from the area, since color changes are not visible
Show answer

Correct answer: Compare the area to the surrounding skin for pain, firmness, softness, and temperature or color change

Blanching may not be visible in dark skin, so the nurse checks for pain, texture, temperature, and color changes compared with nearby skin.

Source: Nursing Fundamentals, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2024), Integumentary: Stage 1 Pressure Injuries. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Physiological Adaptation"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026