Ch. 23
A patient in the dermatology clinic has a thin, scaly erythematous plaque on the right cheek. Which action should the nurse take? a. Prepare the patient for a biopsy. b. Teach about the use of corticosteroid creams. c. Explain how to apply tretinoin (Retin-A) to the face. d. Discuss the need for topical application of antibiotics.
A
A patient with atopic dermatitis has been using a high-potency topical corticosteroid ointment for several weeks. The nurse should assess for which adverse effect? a. Thinning of the affected skin b. Alopecia of the affected areas c. Reddish-brown discoloration of the skin d. Dryness and scaling in the areas of treatment
A
The health care provider diagnoses impetigo in a patient who has crusty vesicopustular lesions on the lower face. Which instructions should the nurse include in the teaching plan? a. Clean the infected areas with soap and water. b. Apply alcohol-based cleansers on the lesions. c. Avoid use of antibiotic ointments on the lesions. d. Use petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to soften crusty areas.
A
The nurse working in the dermatology clinic assesses a young adult female patient who is taking isotretinoin (Accutane) to treat severe cystic acne. Which assessment finding is most indicative of a need for further questioning of the patient? a. The patient recently had an intrauterine device removed. b. The patient already has some acne scarring on her forehead. c. The patient has also used topical antibiotics to treat the acne. d. The patient has a strong family history of rheumatoid arthritis.
A
There is one opening in the schedule at the dermatology clinic, and 4 patients are seeking appointments today. Which patient will the nurse schedule for the available opening? a. 38-year old with a 7-mm nevus on the face that has recently become darker b. 62-year-old with multiple small, soft, pedunculated papules in both axillary areas c. 42-year-old with complaints of itching after using topical fluorouracil on the nose d. 50-year-old with concerns about skin redness after having a chemical peel 3 days ago
A
Which information should the nurse include when teaching a patient who has just received a prescription for ciprofloxacin (Cipro) to treat a urinary tract infection? a. Use a sunscreen with a high SPF when exposed to the sun. b. Sun exposure may decrease the effectiveness of the medication. c. Photosensitivity may result in an artificial-looking tan appearance. d. Wear sunglasses to avoid eye damage while taking this medication.
A
A nurse is teaching a patient with contact dermatitis of the arms and legs about ways to decrease pruritus. Which information should the nurse include in the teaching plan (select all that apply)? a. Cool, wet cloths or dressings can be used to reduce itching. b. Take cool or tepid baths several times daily to decrease itching. c. Add oil to your bath water to aid in moisturizing the affected skin. d. Rub yourself dry with a towel after bathing to prevent skin maceration. e. Use of an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine can reduce scratching.
A, B, E
A teenaged male patient who wrestles in high school is examined by the nurse in the clinic. Which assessment finding would prompt the nurse to teach the patient about the importance of not sharing headgear to prevent the spread of pediculosis? a. Ringlike rashes with red, scaly borders over the entire scalp b. Papular, wheal-like lesions with white deposits on the hair shaft c. Patchy areas of alopecia with small vesicles and excoriated areas d. Red, hivelike papules and plaques with sharply circumscribed borders
B
The nurse notes the presence of white lesions that resemble milk curds in the back of a patient's throat. Which question by the nurse is appropriate at this time? a. "Do you have a productive cough?" b. "How often do you brush your teeth?" c. "Are you taking any medications at present?" d. "Have you ever had an oral herpes infection?"
C
The nurse is interviewing a patient with contact dermatitis. Which finding indicates a need for patient teaching? a. The patient applies corticosteroid cream to pruritic areas. b. The patient uses Neosporin ointment on minor cuts or abrasions. c. The patient adds oilated oatmeal (Aveeno) to the bath water every day. d. The patient takes diphenhydramine (Benadryl) at night if itching occurs.
B
A patient is undergoing psoralen plus ultraviolet A light (PUVA) therapy for treatment of psoriasis. What action should the nurse take to prevent adverse effects from this procedure? a. Cleanse the skin carefully with an antiseptic soap. b. Shield any unaffected areas with lead-lined drapes. c. Have the patient use protective eyewear while receiving PUVA. d. Apply petroleum jelly to the areas surrounding the psoriatic lesions.
C
The nurse instructs a patient about application of corticosteroid cream to an area of contact dermatitis on the right leg. Which patient action indicates that further teaching is needed? a. The patient takes a tepid bath before applying the cream. b. The patient spreads the cream using a downward motion. c. The patient applies a thick layer of the cream to the affected skin. d. The patient covers the area with a dressing after applying the cream.
C
When assessing a new patient at the outpatient clinic, the nurse notes dry, scaly skin; thin hair; and thick, brittle nails. What is the nurse's best action? a. Instruct the patient about the importance of nutrition in skin health. b. Make a referral to a podiatrist so that the nails can be safely trimmed. c. Consult with the health care provider about the need for further diagnostic testing. d. Teach the patient about using moisturizing creams and lotions to decrease dry skin.
C
Which information will the nurse include when teaching an older patient about skin care? a. Dry the skin thoroughly before applying lotions. b. Bathe and wash hair daily with soap and shampoo. c. Use warm water and a moisturizing soap when bathing. d. Use antibacterial soaps when bathing to avoid infection.
C
A nurse develops a teaching plan for a patient diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Which information should the nurse include in the teaching plan? a. Treatment plans include watchful waiting. b. Screening for metastasis will be important. c. Low dose systemic chemotherapy is used to treat BCC. d. Minimizing sun exposure will reduce risk for future BCC.
D
A patient has the following risk factors for melanoma. Which risk factor should the nurse assign as the priority focus of patient teaching? a. The patient has multiple dysplastic nevi. b. The patient is fair-skinned and has blue eyes. c. The patient's mother died of a malignant melanoma. d. The patient uses a tanning booth throughout the winter.
D
A patient who has severe refractory psoriasis on the face, neck, and extremities is socially withdrawn because of the appearance of the lesions. Which action should the nurse take first? a. Discuss the possibility of enrolling in a worker-retraining program. b. Encourage the patient to volunteer to work on community projects. c. Suggest that the patient use cosmetics to cover the psoriatic lesions. d. Ask the patient to describe the impact of psoriasis on quality of life.
D
A patient with an enlarging, irregular mole that is 7 mm in diameter is scheduled for outpatient treatment. The nurse should plan to prepare the patient for which procedure? a. Curettage b. Cryosurgery c. Punch biopsy d. Surgical excision
D
A patient with atopic dermatitis has a new prescription for pimecrolimus (Elidel). After teaching the patient about the medication, which statement by the patient indicates that further teaching is needed? a. "After I apply the medication, I can go ahead and get dressed as usual." b. "I will need to minimize my time in the sun while I am using the Elidel." c. "I will rub the medication gently onto the skin every morning and night." d. "If the medication burns when I apply it, I will wipe it off and call the doctor."
D
The health care provider prescribes topical 5-FU for a patient with actinic keratosis on the left cheek. The nurse should include which statement in the patient's instructions? a. "5-FU will shrink the lesion so that less scarring occurs once the lesion is excised." b. "You may develop nausea and anorexia, but good nutrition is important during treatment." c. "You will need to avoid crowds because of the risk for infection caused by chemotherapy." d. "Your cheek area will be painful and develop eroded areas that will take weeks to heal."
D
The nurse assesses a patient who has just arrived in the postanesthesia recovery area (PACU) after a blepharoplasty. Which assessment data should be reported to the surgeon immediately? a. The patient complains of incisional pain. b. The patient's heart rate is 110 beats/minute. c. The patient is unable to detect when the eyelids are touched. d. The skin around the incision is pale and cold when palpated.
D
The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with furunculosis. Which nursing action could the nurse delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? a. Applying antibiotic cream to the groin. b. Obtaining cultures from ruptured lesions. c. Evaluating the patient's personal hygiene. d. Cleaning the skin with antimicrobial soap.
D
What is the best method to prevent the spread of infection when the nurse is changing the dressing over a wound infected with Staphylococcus aureus? a. Change the dressing using sterile gloves. b. Soak the dressing in sterile normal saline. c. Apply antibiotic ointment over the wound. d. Wash hands and properly dispose of soiled dressings.
D
Which information should the nurse include when teaching patients about decreasing the risk for sun damage to the skin? a. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 8 to 10 for adequate protection. b. Water resistant sunscreens will provide good protection when swimming. c. Increase sun exposure by no more than 10 minutes a day to avoid skin damage. d. Try to stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM (regular time).
D
he nurse notes darker skin pigmentation in the skinfolds of a middle-aged patient who has a body mass index of 40 kg/m2. What is the nurse's best action? a. Teach the patient about the treatment of fungal infection. b. Discuss the use of drying agents to minimize infection risk. c. Instruct the patient about the use of mild soap to clean skinfolds. d. Ask the patient about type 2 diabetes or if there is a family history of it.
D
