NU 518 Advanced Nursing Assessment
Exam 3 (2026/2027) – University of
South Alabama | Advanced Health
Assessment for Nurse Practitioners
A 35-year-old archaeologist comes to your office (located in Phoenix, Arizona) for a
regular skin check-up. She has just returned from her annual dig site in Greece. She
has fair skin and reddish-blonde hair. She has a family history of melanoma. She has
many freckles scattered across her skin. From this description, which of the following is
not a risk factor for melanoma in this patient?
A) Age
B) Hair color
C) Actinic lentigines
D) Heavy sun exposure -CORRECTANSWER A
You are speaking to an 8th grade class about health prevention and are preparing to
discuss the ABCDEs of melanoma. Which of the following descriptions correctly defines
the ABCDEs?
A) A = actinic; B = basal cell; C = color changes, especially blue; D = diameter >6 mm;
E =evolution
,B) A = asymmetry; B = irregular borders; C = color changes, especially blue; D =
diameter >6 mm; E = evolution
C) A = actinic; B = irregular borders; C = keratoses; D = dystrophic nails; E =
evolution D) A = asymmetry; B = regular borders; C = color changes, especially orange;
D = diameter >6 mm; E = evolution -CORRECTANSWER B
You are beginning the examination of the skin on a 25-year-old teacher. You have
previously elicited that she came to the office for evaluation of fatigue, weight gain, and
hair loss. You strongly suspect that she has hypothyroidism. What is the expected
moisture and texture of the skin of a patient with hypothyroidism?
A) Moist and smooth
B) Moist and rough
C) Dry and smooth
D) Dry and rough -CORRECTANSWER D
A 28-year-old patient comes to the office for evaluation of a rash. At first there was only
one large patch, but then more lesions erupted suddenly on the back and torso; the
lesions itch. On physical examination, you note that the pattern of eruption is like a
Christmas tree and that there are a variety of erythematous papules and macules on
the cleavage lines of the back. Based on this description, what is the most likely
diagnosis? A) Pityriasis rosea
B) Tinea versicolor
C) Psoriasis
,D) Atopic eczema -CORRECTANSWER A
A 19-year-old construction worker presents for evaluation of a rash. He notes that it
started on his back with a multitude of spots and is also on his arms, chest, and neck. It
itches a lot. He does sweat more than before because being outdoors is part of his job.
On physical examination, you note dark tan patches with a reddish cast that has sharp
borders and fine scales, scattered more prominently around the upper back, chest,
neck, and upper arms as well as under the arms. Based on this description, what is
your most likely diagnosis? A) Pityriasis rosea
B) Tinea versicolor
C) Psoriasis
D) Atopic eczema -CORRECTANSWER B
A 68-year-old retired farmer comes to your office for evaluation of a skin lesion. On the
right temporal area of the forehead, you see a flattened papule the same color as his
skin, covered by a dry scale that is round and feels hard. He has several more of these
scattered on the forehead, arms, and legs. Based on this description, what is your most
likely diagnosis?
A) Actinic keratosis
B) Seborrheic keratosis
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Squamous cell carcinoma -CORRECTANSWER A
, A 58-year-old gardener comes to your office for evaluation of a new lesion on her upper
chest. The lesion appears to be "stuck on" and is oval, brown, and slightly elevated with
a flat surface. It has a rough, wartlike texture on palpation. Based on this description,
what is your most likely diagnosis?
A) Actinic keratosis
B) Seborrheic keratosis
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Squamous cell carcinoma -CORRECTANSWER B
A 72-year-old teacher comes to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation after being in
the hospital for 6 weeks. She was treated for sepsis and respiratory failure and had to
be on the ventilator for 3 weeks. You are completing your initial assessment and are
evaluating her skin condition. On her sacrum there is full-thickness skin loss that is 5 cm
in diameter, with damage to the subcutaneous tissue. The underlying muscle is not
affected. You diagnose this as a pressure ulcer. What is the stage of this ulcer?
A) Stage 1
B) Stage 2
C) Stage 3
D) Stage 4 -CORRECTANSWER C
An 8-year-old girl comes with her mother for evaluation of hair loss. She denies pulling
or twisting her hair, and her mother has not noted this behavior at all. She does not put
her hair in braids. On physical examination, you note a clearly demarcated, round patch
Exam 3 (2026/2027) – University of
South Alabama | Advanced Health
Assessment for Nurse Practitioners
A 35-year-old archaeologist comes to your office (located in Phoenix, Arizona) for a
regular skin check-up. She has just returned from her annual dig site in Greece. She
has fair skin and reddish-blonde hair. She has a family history of melanoma. She has
many freckles scattered across her skin. From this description, which of the following is
not a risk factor for melanoma in this patient?
A) Age
B) Hair color
C) Actinic lentigines
D) Heavy sun exposure -CORRECTANSWER A
You are speaking to an 8th grade class about health prevention and are preparing to
discuss the ABCDEs of melanoma. Which of the following descriptions correctly defines
the ABCDEs?
A) A = actinic; B = basal cell; C = color changes, especially blue; D = diameter >6 mm;
E =evolution
,B) A = asymmetry; B = irregular borders; C = color changes, especially blue; D =
diameter >6 mm; E = evolution
C) A = actinic; B = irregular borders; C = keratoses; D = dystrophic nails; E =
evolution D) A = asymmetry; B = regular borders; C = color changes, especially orange;
D = diameter >6 mm; E = evolution -CORRECTANSWER B
You are beginning the examination of the skin on a 25-year-old teacher. You have
previously elicited that she came to the office for evaluation of fatigue, weight gain, and
hair loss. You strongly suspect that she has hypothyroidism. What is the expected
moisture and texture of the skin of a patient with hypothyroidism?
A) Moist and smooth
B) Moist and rough
C) Dry and smooth
D) Dry and rough -CORRECTANSWER D
A 28-year-old patient comes to the office for evaluation of a rash. At first there was only
one large patch, but then more lesions erupted suddenly on the back and torso; the
lesions itch. On physical examination, you note that the pattern of eruption is like a
Christmas tree and that there are a variety of erythematous papules and macules on
the cleavage lines of the back. Based on this description, what is the most likely
diagnosis? A) Pityriasis rosea
B) Tinea versicolor
C) Psoriasis
,D) Atopic eczema -CORRECTANSWER A
A 19-year-old construction worker presents for evaluation of a rash. He notes that it
started on his back with a multitude of spots and is also on his arms, chest, and neck. It
itches a lot. He does sweat more than before because being outdoors is part of his job.
On physical examination, you note dark tan patches with a reddish cast that has sharp
borders and fine scales, scattered more prominently around the upper back, chest,
neck, and upper arms as well as under the arms. Based on this description, what is
your most likely diagnosis? A) Pityriasis rosea
B) Tinea versicolor
C) Psoriasis
D) Atopic eczema -CORRECTANSWER B
A 68-year-old retired farmer comes to your office for evaluation of a skin lesion. On the
right temporal area of the forehead, you see a flattened papule the same color as his
skin, covered by a dry scale that is round and feels hard. He has several more of these
scattered on the forehead, arms, and legs. Based on this description, what is your most
likely diagnosis?
A) Actinic keratosis
B) Seborrheic keratosis
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Squamous cell carcinoma -CORRECTANSWER A
, A 58-year-old gardener comes to your office for evaluation of a new lesion on her upper
chest. The lesion appears to be "stuck on" and is oval, brown, and slightly elevated with
a flat surface. It has a rough, wartlike texture on palpation. Based on this description,
what is your most likely diagnosis?
A) Actinic keratosis
B) Seborrheic keratosis
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Squamous cell carcinoma -CORRECTANSWER B
A 72-year-old teacher comes to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation after being in
the hospital for 6 weeks. She was treated for sepsis and respiratory failure and had to
be on the ventilator for 3 weeks. You are completing your initial assessment and are
evaluating her skin condition. On her sacrum there is full-thickness skin loss that is 5 cm
in diameter, with damage to the subcutaneous tissue. The underlying muscle is not
affected. You diagnose this as a pressure ulcer. What is the stage of this ulcer?
A) Stage 1
B) Stage 2
C) Stage 3
D) Stage 4 -CORRECTANSWER C
An 8-year-old girl comes with her mother for evaluation of hair loss. She denies pulling
or twisting her hair, and her mother has not noted this behavior at all. She does not put
her hair in braids. On physical examination, you note a clearly demarcated, round patch
