The nurse should assess skin temperature by using the:

Appeared in: SGPGI Nursing Officer-2024

Explanation

The dorsum (back) of the hand is used to assess skin temperature.
The skin on the dorsal surface is thinner and more sensitive to temperature changes than the skin on the palm or fingertips.
This sensitivity allows the nurse to detect subtle differences in temperature, which can indicate inflammation, infection, or impaired circulation.

Option B: The pads of the fingertips are most sensitive to fine tactile discrimination, not temperature.
Option C: The palm of the hand, particularly the ulnar surface (the side of the little finger), is best for detecting vibrations.
Option D: While the wrist can perceive temperature, the dorsum of the hand provides a larger, more maneuverable, and more sensitive surface for clinical temperature assessment.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Palpation Techniques for Physical Assessment helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Accurate temperature assessment is crucial for detecting signs of inflammation (e.g., in a postoperative wound or an IV site), infection (fever), or circulatory problems (e.g., a cool limb indicating arterial insufficiency).
Using the wrong part of the hand can lead to missed or inaccurate findings, potentially delaying necessary interventions.
What if? If a nurse is assessing a patient with a suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT), they would use the dorsum of the hand to compare the temperature of the affected leg with the unaffected leg. Increased warmth in the affected leg is a key sign of inflammation associated with DVT.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core task in the question: 'assess skin temperature'.
Recall the four main techniques of physical assessment: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. This question focuses on palpation.
Remember that different parts of the hand are specialized for sensing different stimuli.
Associate the dorsum (back) of the hand with temperature sensitivity due to its thinner skin.
Associate fingertips with fine touch (pulses, texture) and the palm/ulnar surface with vibration (fremitus).
Select the option that correctly matches the assessment task (temperature) with the appropriate hand surface (dorsum).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 381-383

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 pp. 63-65, 71-73

Practise the full SGPGI Nursing Officer-2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.