Chapter Summary
- The musculoskeletal system includes the bones of the skeleton and the cartilage, ligaments, and other connective tissues and muscles.
- The integumentary system includes the skin, hair, nails, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and nerves on the skin.
- There is a relationship between the neurological system and the musculoskeletal system in that the brain and nerves tell the voluntary muscles what to do.
- Nutrition plays a key role in the development and maintenance of a healthy musculoskeletal and integumentary system.
- Within the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems, nutrition affects a person’s immune system, inflammatory response, level of edema, bone formation, bone health, fracture healing, wound healing, and hair and nail health.
- Nurse assessment and screening tests for the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems are essential for the overall success of client care.
- Client teaching, including nutritional meal planning, is important to the overall care of the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems.
- The client must be assessed for readiness to learn before educating the client about lifestyle changes including nutrition.
- Evaluation of nutritional strategies include client adherence. The nurse must be able to recognize barriers to adherence with overall client health care.