What would a nurse anticipate finding during a physical assessment regarding skin condition?

A nurse would anticipate finding decreased skin elasticity during a physical assessment, especially in certain populations, such as older adults. As individuals age, the production of collagen and elastin—proteins crucial for maintaining skin structure and elasticity—diminishes. This reduction can result in skin that appears less firm, sagging, and has a greater tendency to wrinkle.

Understanding the aging process and its effects on the skin is important for nurses. Decreased skin elasticity can affect the overall appearance of the skin and the risk for injuries such as skin tears or pressure ulcers. Monitoring these changes can help in planning appropriate skin care interventions to maintain skin integrity and health.

In contrast, options that include increased skin elasticity or normal skin elasticity might be expected in younger individuals or in individuals who maintain a healthy lifestyle, but they are less common findings in older adults, making them less relevant in this context. Skin rashes could be associated with various dermatological conditions or allergic reactions but do not specifically relate to the general assessment of skin elasticity in the population typically observed in the setting described.