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Week 3 Health Assessment Practice Exam (Original)
EXAM | Latest Update | Original Questions & Answers
with Detailed Rationales | Graded A+
Exam Focus: Integumentary system (skin, hair, nails), head,
face, neck, regional lymphatics, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and
throat assessment.
Section 1: Skin, Hair, and Nails Assessment
1. The nurse is assessing a patient's skin turgor. Which
technique is correct?
A) Pinch the skin on the back of the hand
B) Pinch the skin on the forearm or sternum and observe recoil
C) Press the skin over the sternum and release
D) Assess turgor only on the abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: Skin turgor is assessed by gently pinching and lifting
the skin on the forearm, abdomen, or sternum and observing
how quickly it returns to normal. Normal turgor returns
immediately. Poor turgor (tenting) indicates dehydration. The
back of the hand is avoided in older adults as skin naturally
loses elasticity with age.
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2. Which part of the hand is best for assessing skin
temperature?
A) Palmar surface
B) Ulnar surface
C) Dorsal surface (back of the hand)
D) Fingertips
Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back) of the hand is the thinnest
and most sensitive to temperature variations, making it best for
assessing skin temperature.
3. A nurse observes a flat, circumscribed area of color change
on a patient's skin that is less than 1 cm in diameter. This is
documented as a:
A) Papule
B) Macule
C) Vesicle
D) Pustule
Answer: B
Rationale: A macule is a flat, circumscribed area with a color
change that is less than 1 cm in diameter, such as a freckle or
flat mole.
4. Which of the following is a secondary skin lesion?
A) Macule
B) Papule
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C) Ulcer
D) Vesicle
Answer: C
Rationale: An ulcer is a secondary skin lesion that involves a
deeper depression extending into the dermis with irregular
shape and potential bleeding.
5. The nurse is assessing a patient's nails and observes that
the angle of the nail base is greater than 160 degrees. What
condition does this finding suggest?
A) Clubbing
B) Cyanosis
C) Onychomycosis
D) Koilonychia
Answer: A
Rationale: An angle greater than 160 degrees at the nail base is
indicative of clubbing, which can be associated with chronic
hypoxia or certain diseases.
6. A zosteriform lesion is:
A) Arranged in a linear pattern along a unilateral nerve route
B) A circular lesion
C) A diffuse lesion
D) A ring-shaped lesion
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Answer: A
Rationale: A zosteriform lesion is arranged in a linear pattern
along a unilateral nerve route, similar to shingles.
7. Which of the following is a primary skin lesion?
A) Scale
B) Crust
C) Vesicle
D) Fissure
Answer: C
Rationale: A vesicle is a primary skin lesion—an elevated cavity
containing fluid up to 1 cm. Scale, crust, and fissure are
secondary lesions.
8. The nurse is assessing an older adult patient's skin. Which
finding is considered a normal age-related change?
A) Increased skin elasticity
B) Decreased skin turgor
C) Increased sebaceous gland activity
D) Thickened epidermis
Answer: B
Rationale: Decreased skin turgor is a normal age-related change
due to loss of elasticity and collagen. Other normal changes
include thinning of the epidermis and decreased sebaceous
gland activity.
Week 3 Health Assessment Practice Exam (Original)
EXAM | Latest Update | Original Questions & Answers
with Detailed Rationales | Graded A+
Exam Focus: Integumentary system (skin, hair, nails), head,
face, neck, regional lymphatics, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and
throat assessment.
Section 1: Skin, Hair, and Nails Assessment
1. The nurse is assessing a patient's skin turgor. Which
technique is correct?
A) Pinch the skin on the back of the hand
B) Pinch the skin on the forearm or sternum and observe recoil
C) Press the skin over the sternum and release
D) Assess turgor only on the abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: Skin turgor is assessed by gently pinching and lifting
the skin on the forearm, abdomen, or sternum and observing
how quickly it returns to normal. Normal turgor returns
immediately. Poor turgor (tenting) indicates dehydration. The
back of the hand is avoided in older adults as skin naturally
loses elasticity with age.
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
2. Which part of the hand is best for assessing skin
temperature?
A) Palmar surface
B) Ulnar surface
C) Dorsal surface (back of the hand)
D) Fingertips
Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back) of the hand is the thinnest
and most sensitive to temperature variations, making it best for
assessing skin temperature.
3. A nurse observes a flat, circumscribed area of color change
on a patient's skin that is less than 1 cm in diameter. This is
documented as a:
A) Papule
B) Macule
C) Vesicle
D) Pustule
Answer: B
Rationale: A macule is a flat, circumscribed area with a color
change that is less than 1 cm in diameter, such as a freckle or
flat mole.
4. Which of the following is a secondary skin lesion?
A) Macule
B) Papule
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
C) Ulcer
D) Vesicle
Answer: C
Rationale: An ulcer is a secondary skin lesion that involves a
deeper depression extending into the dermis with irregular
shape and potential bleeding.
5. The nurse is assessing a patient's nails and observes that
the angle of the nail base is greater than 160 degrees. What
condition does this finding suggest?
A) Clubbing
B) Cyanosis
C) Onychomycosis
D) Koilonychia
Answer: A
Rationale: An angle greater than 160 degrees at the nail base is
indicative of clubbing, which can be associated with chronic
hypoxia or certain diseases.
6. A zosteriform lesion is:
A) Arranged in a linear pattern along a unilateral nerve route
B) A circular lesion
C) A diffuse lesion
D) A ring-shaped lesion
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
Answer: A
Rationale: A zosteriform lesion is arranged in a linear pattern
along a unilateral nerve route, similar to shingles.
7. Which of the following is a primary skin lesion?
A) Scale
B) Crust
C) Vesicle
D) Fissure
Answer: C
Rationale: A vesicle is a primary skin lesion—an elevated cavity
containing fluid up to 1 cm. Scale, crust, and fissure are
secondary lesions.
8. The nurse is assessing an older adult patient's skin. Which
finding is considered a normal age-related change?
A) Increased skin elasticity
B) Decreased skin turgor
C) Increased sebaceous gland activity
D) Thickened epidermis
Answer: B
Rationale: Decreased skin turgor is a normal age-related change
due to loss of elasticity and collagen. Other normal changes
include thinning of the epidermis and decreased sebaceous
gland activity.
