Questions: A nurse is assessing a 49-year-old client who questions the nurse's need to know about sunburns they experienced as a child. How should the nurse best explain the rationale for this subjective assessment?

The answer is the first one: "Having bad sunburns when you're a child puts you at risk for skin cancer later in life."

Explanation for each option:

1. "Having bad sunburns when you're a child puts you at risk for skin cancer later in life."

   • This is correct. Childhood sunburns are a significant risk factor for developing skin cancer, including melanoma, later in life. The nurse's assessment is aimed at identifying potential long-term health risks.

2. "When you burn your skin as a child, it makes your skin more sensitive and slower to heal when you're older."

   • This is incorrect. While repeated sunburns can damage the skin, making it more prone to issues like premature aging, the primary concern with childhood sunburns is the increased risk of skin cancer, not necessarily increased sensitivity or slower healing in older age.

3. "This is one of the assessments we use to determine whether your parents took good care of your skin when you were young."

   • This is incorrect. The nurse's assessment is not about evaluating parental care but rather about understanding the patient's risk factors for skin cancer.

4. "Repeated sunburns in childhood may explain the presence of some of your moles."

   • This is partially correct but not the best explanation. While sun exposure can contribute to the development of moles, the primary concern with childhood sunburns is the increased risk of skin cancer.

Summary: The nurse should explain that having bad sunburns as a child puts the client at risk for skin cancer later in life, which is why this information is relevant to their health assessment.