Question 1

The nurse is providing teaching for an adolescent who has acne vulgaris. In addition to teaching about correct administration of the prescribed medications, the nurse will instruct this patient to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should instruct the patient to cleanse the skin gently several times a day to remove excess oil and bacteria. Vigorous cleansing can irritate the skin and worsen the acne. Topical vitamin D is not typically used to treat acne, and there is no evidence to support the use of oral vitamin D supplements for acne.

Question 2

A patient reports severe localized itching after contact with a new brand of laundry detergent. The nurse will suggest that the patient contact the provider to discuss treatment with which product?

Accepted Answer

Topical corticosteroids are the most effective treatment for localized itching caused by contact dermatitis. Calamine lotion and topical diphenhydramine may offer temporary relief but will not treat the underlying cause. Systemic glucocorticoids may be prescribed for more severe cases but are not typically used for localized itching.

Question 3

A patient reports using benzoyl peroxide 2.5% for acne but doesn't feel that it is working. The nurse notes papules and nodules on the patient's face, neck, and back, consistent with moderate acne vulgaris. The nurse will counsel this patient to ask the provider about which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Using benzoyl peroxide 10% and a topical antibiotic can enhance the treatment of moderate acne by combining the antibacterial effects of benzoyl peroxide with the additional benefits of a topical antibiotic.

Question 4

A patient who works outdoors has frequent contact dermatitis flares secondary to exposure to plant irritants. The patient asks the nurse how to minimize these episodes. The nurse will counsel this patient to perform which action?

Accepted Answer

Cleansing the skin immediately after any contact with plants can help to minimize exposure to plant irritants and reduce the risk of contact dermatitis flares. Applying topical glucocorticoid medication prior to exposure may be helpful, but it is not a preventative measure. Systemic diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is not a long-term solution and may cause drowsiness, and calamine lotion may not be effective at preventing exposure to plant irritants.

Question 5

A patient has second- and third-degree burns, and the nurse is applying silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene) to the burns with each dressing change. The patient reports a burning sensation. The nurse understands that this is:

Accepted Answer

A burning sensation is an expected adverse reaction to silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene) and is not a sign of a hypersensitivity reaction or tissue infection. It is also not a sign of skin necrosis. The medication works by killing bacteria on the skin but can also cause some discomfort or burning during application.

Question 6

The nurse is teaching a female patient who will begin taking isotretinoin (Amnesteem) to treat severe cystic acne. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?

Accepted Answer

Isotretinoin can cause muscle and joint pain, so avoiding strenuous exercise is advised.

Question 7

A patient who has psoriasis will begin taking etanercept (Enbrel). The nurse will ensure that which laboratory test is performed prior to initiating treatment with this drug?

Accepted Answer

Etanercept can increase the risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation in individuals who have latent TB infection. Therefore, before initiating treatment with etanercept, a tuberculin test (also known as a purified protein derivative or PPD test) should be performed to screen for latent TB infection. If the test is positive, the patient may need to receive treatment for TB before beginning etanercept.

Question 8

A female patient has begun using 2% minoxidil (Rogaine) to treat thinning of her hair. After several weeks of treatment, she reports minimal effectiveness but has noticed some improvement. The nurse will counsel her to perform which action?

Accepted Answer

The patient has reported some improvement, indicating that the 2% minoxidil is having some effect. It is common for hair regrowth with minoxidil to take several months, so it is important to counsel the patient to continue using the medication as directed. Switching to finasteride or increasing the strength of minoxidil may be options if the patient continues to experience minimal effectiveness after a longer period of use, but discontinuing the medication altogether is not recommended unless there are adverse effects.

Question 9

A patient who has extensive second- and third-degree burns will use mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon) to treat the burns. Which of the following is true of mafenide acetate use for the treatment of burns?

Accepted Answer

Mafenide acetate is a topical agent used to treat burns, not an oral medication. It does not have significant drug interactions associated with use. The potential side effects of mafenide acetate use include rash, urticaria, and pruritus. Mafenide acetate is not a synthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic.

Question 10

The nurse assists the provider to treat a patient who has warts with cantharidin (Cantharone). After the cantharidin is applied to the warts, the nurse will do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Cantharidin (Cantharone) is a blistering agent used to treat warts. After application of the solution, the nurse should cover the warts with nonporous tape when the solution dries. This helps to enhance the blistering effect of the medication and keep it in contact with the warts for a longer time. Applying gauze dressings or wet-to-dry dressings to the warts is not recommended as this may cause the medication to be absorbed by the dressings, reducing its efficacy. Cryotherapy is not typically used in conjunction with Cantharone treatment.

Question 11

A patient who has psoriasis is taking methoxsalen (Oxsoralen) to treat the condition along with receiving therapeutic ultraviolet A. The nurse notes burning and blistering of the patient's skin. Which action will the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

Methoxsalen (Oxsoralen) is a photosensitizing agent used in combination with UVA light therapy for the treatment of psoriasis. Burning and blistering of the skin can occur due to excessive exposure to sunlight or UVA, as methoxsalen increases the skin's sensitivity to light. Asking about recent sunlight exposure is important to determine if this contributed to the adverse reaction.

Question 12

The nurse is teaching a group of adolescents about sun protection. What information will the nurse include when teaching this group?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is teaching a group of...

Quiz 45: Dermatologic Disorders