There are minimal differences when it comes to skin examination and any other organ system. The primary task of the nurse practitioner should be to conduct a thorough assessment of patient history by means of a brief interview (Jensen, 2018). The questions should be focused on how skin disorders might have affected the patient in the past. Hence, the presence of systemic complaints would facilitate the process of assessment by outlining the best problem-focused patient history analysis. For instance, DiBaise and Tarleton (2019) suggest that a comprehensive patient history might be required for lupus erythematous or similar diseases. Speaking of present illnesses, one of the primary go-to choices could be to ask the patient about the severity of symptoms such as tenderness, pain, or burning. The next crucial step would be to investigate the patient’s previous responses to various treatments, especially if over-the-counter medications were involved.
The detailed assessment of the patient’s condition and the severity of lupus erythematous should begin with the nurse addressing the patient’s responses to treatment and reading the history of similar problems. Since most chief complaints from patients revolve around skin tumors, it could be vital to follow up the visual assessment with additional questions to prevent the nurse practitioner from missing crucial information (Jensen, 2018). For example, the care provider could discuss the changes to the lesion or discuss the history of intaking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. It could be helpful to identify the patient’s Fitzpatrick skin type in order to evaluate their potential exposure to skin cancer and take preventive steps if necessary. Ultimately, immunosuppressive drugs could be prescribed in the most severe cases of lupus.
References
DiBaise, M., & Tarleton, S. M. (2019). Hair, nails, and skin: Differentiating cutaneous manifestations of micronutrient deficiency. Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 34(4), 490-503. Web.
Jensen, S. (2018). Nursing health assessment: A best practice approach. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.