Question 1

When conducting a physical examination of the skin, hair, and nails, the nurse notes the age of the patient. Why is this information important to the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Knowing the age of the patient is important for the nurse to be able to anticipate age-related changes that may impact the patient's skin, hair, and nails. This information can help the nurse to identify and differentiate between normal changes and those that may be abnormal or require further evaluation.

Question 2

During an integumentary assessment, an older patient is found to have a brown benign macule with a defined border. How should the nurse document this finding?

Accepted Answer

A brown benign macule with a defined border is most likely a lentigine, also known as a "liver spot" or "age spot." Keratosis, angioma, and telangiectases all refer to different types of skin lesions with different characteristics.

Question 3

A patient being seen for an elevated, darkened area of excess scar tissue asks the nurse what caused it. How should the nurse respond?

Accepted Answer

Excessive collagen formation during healing can lead to the formation of raised and dark-colored scars, also called hypertrophic scars. These scars can occur due to various reasons such as burns, surgical incisions, or injuries.

Question 4

A patient is seen for an erythematous generalized rash. Which questions should the nurse ask regarding the rash?

Accepted Answer

Questions about new foods, medications, soap, and skin care lotions are relevant for assessing potential causes of an erythematous generalized rash. These factors can all contribute to skin reactions either through allergic reactions or sensitivities.

Question 5

A patient who has experienced a burn involving both the epidermis and the dermis asks if the area will heal and be as it was prior to the burn. What knowledge of skin structures should the nurse use to respond to this patient?

Accepted Answer

The dermis contains most hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and receptors for pain and touch. This knowledge is relevant to understanding the potential for healing and the impact of a burn that affects both the epidermis and dermis.

Question 6

A patient complains of the sudden appearance of white patches on the skin. The nurse, suspecting vitiligo, should ask the patient which questions?

Accepted Answer

A is important because vitiligo is often hereditary. Knowing if anyone else in the patient's family has had a similar issue can help with diagnosis and treatment.

E is important because vitiligo typically appears on specific parts of the body such as the face, hands, feet, and genital areas. Knowing where the patches are located can help with diagnosis and treatment.

Question 7

While conducting a patient's health history, the nurse learns that the patient has worked at a landfill for the last 35 years. Why should the nurse find this information significant?

Accepted Answer

Working at a landfill for an extended period may lead to exposure to environmental toxins, which can have adverse effects on the patient's health. Therefore, it is significant for the nurse to consider this information while assessing the patient's health.

Question 8

The nurse is assessing the integumentary status of an older patient. What change should the nurse expect in this patient?

Accepted Answer

As people age, their skin becomes thinner and less elastic, which reduces the skin's ability to produce vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. This can lead to vitamin D deficiency and related health problems. A decrease in abdominal fat (A) and an increase in perfusion (B) and vasomotor response (D) are not necessarily age-related skin changes.

Question 9

A Caucasian patient is admitted with possible carbon monoxide poisoning. What skin color can the nurse expect to find that would support this diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Cherry red skin color is classic manifestation of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Question 10

The nurse is providing care to patients in a community clinic. When should the nurse conduct a health assessment interview to determine problems with the integumentary system?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is providing care to patients...

Question 11

The nurse is completing an integumentary examination with an African American patient. Which findings should the nurse recognize are associated with the patient's genetics?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is completing an integumentary examination...

Question 12

The nurse is caring for an older patient. What should the nurse keep in mind when caring for the patient's skin?

Accepted Answer

As a person ages, the subcutaneous layer (the layer beneath the dermis) becomes thinner, resulting in loss of fat and elasticity. This can lead to increased risk of skin tears and pressure ulcers.

Question 13

A patient is experiencing a problem with the eccrine sweat glands. Because of this structural problem, the nurse realizes that which function will be affected in this patient?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient is experiencing a problem with...

Question 14

The nurse is performing an assessment of a patient's nails. What should be included in this examination?

Accepted Answer

Nail assessment should include evaluating the thickness, color, curvature, and presence of grooves or ridges, as these can indicate various health conditions. Nail length is less clinically relevant and more of a personal or cosmetic choice.

Question 15

The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with oculocutaneous albinism. What does the nurse understand this health problem to be?

Accepted Answer

Oculocutaneous albinism is a genetic disorder that results in reduced or absent melanin production, leading to hypopigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes. It is caused by mutations in genes involved in melanin synthesis.

Question 16

A patient has an area of rough, thickened, hardened epidermis. What should the nurse suspect as the reason for this skin lesion?

Accepted Answer

Chronic dermatitis can lead to lichenification, which is characterized by rough, thickened, and hardened skin due to repeated scratching or rubbing.

Question 17

The nurse is caring for an African American patient who has a serum bilirubin of 6 mg/100 mL. What is the best way of assessing skin color changes in this patient?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is caring for an African...

Question 18

The nurse is caring for an African American patient who has an ashen cast to his normally black skin. Which laboratory test results should the nurse review to determine a possible cause of the skin color change?

Accepted Answer

Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are indicators of anemia, which can cause pallor or an ashen appearance in the skin, including in individuals with darker skin tones. This change in skin color can be a sign of reduced oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood.

Question 19

During a conversation with the nurse, a patient comments that he rarely goes outside when the sun is shining because he is afraid of developing skin cancer. Which health problem is this patient at risk for developing?

Accepted Answer

The patient is at risk for developing vitamin D deficiency because the body can only produce vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. By avoiding the sun, the patient is limiting their ability to produce vitamin D which can lead to deficiency. Hypercholesterolemia, hypokalemia, and hypernatremia are not related to sun exposure.

Question 20

A female patient who is concerned about excessive hair on her arms and legs states that her mother had the same problem. How should the nurse respond?

Accepted Answer

Excessive hair growth patterns can be inherited, so it is likely that the patient's mother experiencing the same problem is a result of genetics. The other options given do not address the possibility of genetic inheritance.

Quiz 15: Assessing the Integumentary System