Question 1

During an examination,the nurse finds that a patient has excessive dryness of the skin.The best term to describe this condition is:

Accepted Answer

A) Xerosis. 
B) Pruritus. 
C) Alopecia. 
D) Seborrhea.

Question 2

A 45-year-old farmer comes in for a skin evaluation and complains of hair loss on his head.His hair seems to be breaking off in patches,and he notices some scaling on his head.The nurse begins the examination suspecting:

Accepted Answer

A) Tinea capitis. 
B) Folliculitis. 
C) Toxic alopecia. 
D) Seborrheic dermatitis.

Question 3

The nurse is preparing for a certification course in skin care and needs to be familiar with the various lesions that may be identified on assessment of the skin.Which of the following definitions are correct? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A) Petechiae: Tiny punctate hemorrhages, 1 to 3 mm, round and discrete, dark red, purple, or brown in color 
B) Bulla: Elevated, circumscribed lesion filled with turbid fluid (pus) 
C) Papule: Hypertrophic scar 
D) Vesicle: Known as a friction blister 
E) Nodule: Solid, elevated, and hard or soft growth that is larger than 1 cm

Question 4

The nurse is assessing the skin of a patient who has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)and notices multiple patchlike lesions on the temple and beard area that are faint pink in color.The nurse recognizes these lesions as:

Accepted Answer

A) Measles (rubeola). 
B) Kaposi's sarcoma. 
C) Angiomas. 
D) Herpes zoster.

Question 5

A mother has noticed that her son,who has been to a new babysitter,has some blisters and scabs on his face and buttocks.On examination,the nurse notices moist,thin-roofed vesicles with a thin erythematous base and suspects:

Accepted Answer

A) Eczema. 
B) Impetigo. 
C) Herpes zoster. 
D) Diaper dermatitis.

Question 6

A physician has diagnosed a patient with purpura.After leaving the room,a nursing student asks the nurse what the physician saw that led to that diagnosis.The nurse should say,"The physician is referring to the:

Accepted Answer

A) "Blue dilation of blood vessels in a star-shaped linear pattern on the legs." 
B) "Fiery red, star-shaped marking on the cheek that has a solid circular center." 
C) "Confluent and extensive patch of petechiae and ecchymoses on the feet." 
D) "Tiny areas of hemorrhage that are less than 2 mm, round, discrete, and dark red in color."

Question 7

The nurse is examining a patient who tells the nurse,"I sure sweat a lot,especially on my face and feet but it doesn't have an odor." The nurse knows that this condition could be related to:

Accepted Answer

A) Eccrine glands. 
B) Apocrine glands. 
C) Disorder of the stratum corneum. 
D) Disorder of the stratum germinativum.

Question 8

The nurse is assessing for clubbing of the fingernails and expects to find:

Accepted Answer

A) Nail bases that are firm and slightly tender. 
B) Curved nails with a convex profile and ridges across the nails. 
C) Nail bases that feel spongy with an angle of the nail base of 150 degrees. 
D) Nail bases with an angle of 180 degrees or greater and nail bases that feel spongy.

Exam 12: Skin, Hair, and Nails