Assessing pressure ulcers in patients with darker skin tones

Abstract

Standards of education and practice require nurses to respect and value the principles of equality and diversity. However, even though the UK is an ethnically diverse society, nurse education, teaching resources, textbooks and clinical tools do not adequately consider or represent darker skin tones, which is likely to negatively affect the quality of care and compound health inequalities. This article highlights the importance of skin tone diversity in education, literature and resources to ensure optimal education for nurses and optimal pressure ulcer care for patients. The author reflects on the challenges involved and raises awareness of resources that can support nurses in the early detection of skin changes in people with darker skin tones.