Nurse Practitioner
Certification Exam
Questions and
Answers Updated
2026
primary lesion - Answerlesion that develops on previously unaltered skin
lesion - Answera region in an organ or tissue that has suffered damage thru injury or disease
secondary lesion - Answerlesion that either changes impression over time or occurs when a
primary lesion is scratched it may be infected
macule - Answercircumscribed flat area; different color and texture from surrounding tissue,
<1cm
ex.) ephelides (freckles), petechia, flat nevi (moles)
patch - Answera large macule; >1cm
ex.) mongolian spot, Cafe, au lair spot
papule - AnswerSmall solid elevated lesion; <1cm
ex.) bug bite, elevated nevus (mole) or verruca (wart)
,plaque - Answerelevation of skin; >1cm; example psoriasis lesion
pustule - Answera visible accumulation of purulent fluid under skin; <1cm; examples acne
and impetigo
vesicle - Answera circumscribed elevation of skin contains "SEROUS FLUID: <1cm; examples,
herpes simples, varicella, shingles
nodule - Answersolid mass of skin, is elevated or palpated >1cm; often extends deeper into
dermis: examples xanthoma and fibroma
bulla - Answerblister, circumscribed elevation containing fluid >1cm , extends only into
epidermis, examples burns, superficial blister, contact dermatitis
wheal - Answerelevated white or pink compressible papule or plaque, a red, axon-mediated
flare often surround it, commonly associated with allergic reaction, examples PPD test and
mosquito bites
cyst - Answerany closed cavity or sac; contains fluid or semisolid material, normal or
abnormal epithelium. example sebaceous cyst
Abscess - Answera localized collection of purulent fluid in a cavity formed by disintegration
or necrosis of tissues >1cm
tumor - Answer"MASS: > few cm in diameter; firm or soft; benign or malignant
configuration: annular - Answercircular, begins in center and spreads to periphery
configuration: confluent - Answerlesions run together
, configuration: grouped - Answerlesion cluster
configuration: gyrate - Answertwisted, coiled, spiral and snake like
configuration: linear - Answerscratch, streak, line stripe
configuration: polycyclic - Answerannular lesions merge
configuration: solitary or discrete - Answerindividual and distinct lesions that remain
separate
configuration: target (iris) - Answerresembles iris of eye; lesion with concentric rings of color
configuration: zosteriform - Answerlinear arrangement along nerve route
comedones - Answeropen are called black heads (openings capped with a blackened skin
debris); and closed are called white head (obstructed)
acne - Answercan be comedones, pustules, papules (pimples and zits), cysts, nodules and
scaring
nonpharmacological management of acne - Answerwash several times daily with soap and
water; avoid topical oil based; use oil free cleansers and moisterizers
pharmacological management of acne - Answercomedolytic agents: benzoyl peroxice,
salicylic acid, topical antibiotics (clindamycin, erythromycin, tetracycline and metronidazole
for rosacea). May consider oral antibiotics and oral contraceptives
folliculitis - Answerinflammation of hair follicle; common cause staphylococci
Certification Exam
Questions and
Answers Updated
2026
primary lesion - Answerlesion that develops on previously unaltered skin
lesion - Answera region in an organ or tissue that has suffered damage thru injury or disease
secondary lesion - Answerlesion that either changes impression over time or occurs when a
primary lesion is scratched it may be infected
macule - Answercircumscribed flat area; different color and texture from surrounding tissue,
<1cm
ex.) ephelides (freckles), petechia, flat nevi (moles)
patch - Answera large macule; >1cm
ex.) mongolian spot, Cafe, au lair spot
papule - AnswerSmall solid elevated lesion; <1cm
ex.) bug bite, elevated nevus (mole) or verruca (wart)
,plaque - Answerelevation of skin; >1cm; example psoriasis lesion
pustule - Answera visible accumulation of purulent fluid under skin; <1cm; examples acne
and impetigo
vesicle - Answera circumscribed elevation of skin contains "SEROUS FLUID: <1cm; examples,
herpes simples, varicella, shingles
nodule - Answersolid mass of skin, is elevated or palpated >1cm; often extends deeper into
dermis: examples xanthoma and fibroma
bulla - Answerblister, circumscribed elevation containing fluid >1cm , extends only into
epidermis, examples burns, superficial blister, contact dermatitis
wheal - Answerelevated white or pink compressible papule or plaque, a red, axon-mediated
flare often surround it, commonly associated with allergic reaction, examples PPD test and
mosquito bites
cyst - Answerany closed cavity or sac; contains fluid or semisolid material, normal or
abnormal epithelium. example sebaceous cyst
Abscess - Answera localized collection of purulent fluid in a cavity formed by disintegration
or necrosis of tissues >1cm
tumor - Answer"MASS: > few cm in diameter; firm or soft; benign or malignant
configuration: annular - Answercircular, begins in center and spreads to periphery
configuration: confluent - Answerlesions run together
, configuration: grouped - Answerlesion cluster
configuration: gyrate - Answertwisted, coiled, spiral and snake like
configuration: linear - Answerscratch, streak, line stripe
configuration: polycyclic - Answerannular lesions merge
configuration: solitary or discrete - Answerindividual and distinct lesions that remain
separate
configuration: target (iris) - Answerresembles iris of eye; lesion with concentric rings of color
configuration: zosteriform - Answerlinear arrangement along nerve route
comedones - Answeropen are called black heads (openings capped with a blackened skin
debris); and closed are called white head (obstructed)
acne - Answercan be comedones, pustules, papules (pimples and zits), cysts, nodules and
scaring
nonpharmacological management of acne - Answerwash several times daily with soap and
water; avoid topical oil based; use oil free cleansers and moisterizers
pharmacological management of acne - Answercomedolytic agents: benzoyl peroxice,
salicylic acid, topical antibiotics (clindamycin, erythromycin, tetracycline and metronidazole
for rosacea). May consider oral antibiotics and oral contraceptives
folliculitis - Answerinflammation of hair follicle; common cause staphylococci
