2.0 Continuing Education Hours

In the general public, 20-30% of the population suffer from skin diseases. In addition, 10% have disease so serious that it interferes with their activities of daily living. Because skin conditions are typically visible, patients may experience greater embarrassment, stigma and even ostracism. This may be worse in the correctional environment, where living quarters are very close and individuals may be ignorant about skin conditions and their communicability. As a result, Correctional Nurses must evaluate skin conditions often. They must be able to recognize common presentations of skin disorders, and they must be able to identify emergency dermatological conditions that require immediate evaluation by an Advanced Level Provider. They must be able to provide patient education not only to the patient with the condition, but also to individuals living in the facility and the correctional staff.

In this Skin Assessment, Part II class, common skin conditions will be discussed after a short review of important terminology used to describe skin conditions.  Conditions include dermatitis, Psoriasis, folliculitis, and fungal infections; and emergency conditions such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.