Pharm Dermatology

A patient is considering taking oral aloe supplements and asks the nurse about potential problems with this therapy. Which statement by the nurse is correct?

"Aloe is used by some to treat constipation; it may cause diarrhea."

A female patient has been taking isotretinoin (Amnesteem) for 3 months. During a follow-up appointment, which statement by the patient would be of highest concern to the nurse?

"I have been feeling rather down and lonely lately."

A teenage boy is taking tretinoin (Retin-A) for acne. Which statement will the nurse include in the teaching plan?

"This drug may cause increased redness of your skin."

The nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a patient and notes that the patient has positive results for nasal colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The nurse anticipates an order for which medication?

mupirocin (Bactroban)

A father calls because his son has head lice. He reports that he used "that special medicated shampoo three times, but nothing happened." He wants to know what to do now. What will the nurse advise first?

"Use a nit comb to remove nits from the hair shafts."

A patient has a prescription for topically applied 5% fluorouracil (Efudex) cream as part of treatment for basal cell carcinoma on her cheek. Which instructions will the nurse provide to the patient? (Select all that apply.)

"You can use clean fingertips to apply the cream, but be sure to wash your hands afterward." "You will need to stay out of the sun during therapy with this medication." "Apply this medication to the affected site twice daily." "You may have swelling, scaling, burning, and tenderness in the affected area."

A female patient will be starting therapy with oral isotretinoin (Amnesteem) as part of treatment for severe acne, and the nurse is providing teaching. Which teaching point will the nurse include in her teaching plan about isotretinoin?

"You will have to use two contraceptive methods while on this drug."

A woman suffered a second-degree burn of the skin on her arm and hand while cooking breakfast. After examination in the urgent care center, silver sulfadiazine cream (Silvadene) is ordered for the burned area. The nurse will apply the medication using which procedure?

Applying a thin layer with a sterile, gloved hand to clean and débrided areas

Which adverse effects will the nurse expect in a teenage patient who is using topical tretinoin (Retin-A)? (Select all that apply.)

Crusted skin Altered skin pigmentation Red and edematous blisters

A 55-year-old obese patient was diagnosed with candidiasis in the skin folds under her breasts. When the nurse sees her at a follow-up visit 2 months later, she complains that it has returned. She said she applied the medicine for 1 week and stopped because the itching stopped and the cream was messy. Which statement is true regarding fungal infections of the skin?

Fungal infections often require prolonged therapy.

A patient is to receive a topical corticosteroid for an allergic rash. When administering this medication, the nurse is aware that which form is generally the most penetrating when applied to the skin?

Ointments

The preoperative nurse is ready to perform a skin prep with povidone-iodine (Betadine) on a patient who is about to have abdominal surgery. Which allergies, if present, would be a contraindication to the Betadine prep?

Shellfish

A patient asks about using minoxidil (Rogaine) for hair thinning. Which statement about minoxidil is accurate?

Systemic absorption may cause tachycardia, fluid retention, and weight gain.

The nurse is reviewing the medical record of a patient who is to receive wound care with topical silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene). Which finding, if noted, would be a potential contraindication?

The patient is allergic to sulfa drugs.

A child has been diagnosed with impetigo, a skin infection. The nurse anticipates that which drug will be used to treat this condition?

bacitracin

A patient is admitted to the hospital for possible septicemia. He has a large pressure ulcer on his heel that is open and includes necrotic tissue. However, his PT/INR values are too high to permit surgical débridement at this time. The nurse expects that which wound-care product will be used to treat the wound?

collagenase (Santyl)