Chapter 56 Management of Patients With Dermatologic
Disorders
Multiple Choice
1. A 16-year old male has come to the dermatology clinic for treatment of nodular cystic
acne. The nurse would expect that the treatment will consist of which of the following
medications? A) Acyclovir (Zovirax)
B) Isotretinoin (Accutane)
C) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
D) Triamcinolone (Kenalog)
Ans: B
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 4
Patient Needs: D-2
Feedback: Accutane is an oral retinoid that has shown dramatic results in patients with nodular
cystic acne unresponsive to conventional therapy. Zovirax is used in the treatment of herpes
zoster as an oral antiviral agent. Benadryl is an oral antihistamine used in the treatment of
pruritus. Intralesional injections of Kenalog have been utilized in the treatment of psoriasis.
2. The nurse creating a teaching plan for a patient with psoriasis should include which of the
following?
A) Caution about taking nonprescription medications
B) Avoided contact with other
C) Frequently wash skin to prevent infection
D) Liberally apply corticosteroids as often as needed
Ans: A
Cognitive Level: Application
,Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 2
Patient Needs: A-1
Feedback: The patient should be cautioned about taking nonprescription medications because
some may aggravate mild psoriasis. Psoriasis is not contagious. Many patients need
reassurance that the condition is not infectious, not a reflection of poor personal hygiene, and
not skin cancer. Too-frequent washing of skin produces more soreness and scaling. Overuse of
topical corticosteroids can result in skin atrophy, striae, and medication resistance.
3. When planning care for a patient with herpes zoster, the nurse is aware that which of the
following medications, administered within the first 24 hours of the initial eruption, can
arrest herpes zoster?
A) Deltasone (Prednisone)
B) Azanthioprine (Imuran)
C) Triamcinolone
(Kenalog) D) Acyclovir
(Zovirax)
Ans: D
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 3
Patient Needs: D-2
Feedback: Intravenous acyclovir, if started early, is effective in significantly reducing the
pain and halting the progression of the disease. There is evidence that infection is arrested if
oral antiviral agents are administered within the first 24 hours. Prednisone is an anti-
inflammatory agent used in a variety of skin disorders. Imuran is an immunosuppressive
agent used in the treatment of pemphigus. Kenalog is utilized in the treatment of psoriasis.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who has sustained second-degree burns on his left leg. A
skin graft has been used to cover the area of the burn. Nursing management of the skin graft
site includes which of the following?
A) Assisting with AROM of the skin graft site to prevent contractures
B) Keeping the affected area mobilized as much as possible
C) Applying heat to the grafted area to decrease edema
D) Using lanolin to moisten the graft site on postoperative day 2
,Ans: B
, Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 8
Patient Needs: A-1
Feedback: The nurse should instruct the patient to keep the affected part immobilized as
much as possible. When ambulation is permitted, the patient wears an elastic stocking to
counterbalance venous pressure. There may be loss of feeling or sensation in the grafted area
for a prolonged period; the application of heating pads and exposure to the sun must be
avoided to prevent burns and further skin trauma. Lanolin is used inn donor site care, to keep
the donor site soft and pliable.
5. The nurse caring for a patient with pediculosis capitis who has been prescribed
lindane (Kwell) shampoo knows that an adverse effect of this medication, when used
improperly, is which of the following?
A) Blister formation
B) Scalp erythema
C) Central nervous system toxicity
D) Increased scaling of the scalp
Ans: C
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 3
Patient Needs: D-2
Feedback: The patient should be instructed that lindane may be toxic to the central nervous
system when used improperly. Scalp redness may occur from the itching but is not related to
the lindane shampoo itself. There is no blister formation or increased scaling of the scalp when
using lindane.
6. It is important for the nurse explaining various causes of irritant contact dermatitis to
include which of the following as a potential cause of this skin disorder to prevent repeated
cases?
A) Reaction to an oral
medication B) Reaction to soap
or detergents C) Poor hygiene
D) Overhydration of the skin
Disorders
Multiple Choice
1. A 16-year old male has come to the dermatology clinic for treatment of nodular cystic
acne. The nurse would expect that the treatment will consist of which of the following
medications? A) Acyclovir (Zovirax)
B) Isotretinoin (Accutane)
C) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
D) Triamcinolone (Kenalog)
Ans: B
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 4
Patient Needs: D-2
Feedback: Accutane is an oral retinoid that has shown dramatic results in patients with nodular
cystic acne unresponsive to conventional therapy. Zovirax is used in the treatment of herpes
zoster as an oral antiviral agent. Benadryl is an oral antihistamine used in the treatment of
pruritus. Intralesional injections of Kenalog have been utilized in the treatment of psoriasis.
2. The nurse creating a teaching plan for a patient with psoriasis should include which of the
following?
A) Caution about taking nonprescription medications
B) Avoided contact with other
C) Frequently wash skin to prevent infection
D) Liberally apply corticosteroids as often as needed
Ans: A
Cognitive Level: Application
,Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 2
Patient Needs: A-1
Feedback: The patient should be cautioned about taking nonprescription medications because
some may aggravate mild psoriasis. Psoriasis is not contagious. Many patients need
reassurance that the condition is not infectious, not a reflection of poor personal hygiene, and
not skin cancer. Too-frequent washing of skin produces more soreness and scaling. Overuse of
topical corticosteroids can result in skin atrophy, striae, and medication resistance.
3. When planning care for a patient with herpes zoster, the nurse is aware that which of the
following medications, administered within the first 24 hours of the initial eruption, can
arrest herpes zoster?
A) Deltasone (Prednisone)
B) Azanthioprine (Imuran)
C) Triamcinolone
(Kenalog) D) Acyclovir
(Zovirax)
Ans: D
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 3
Patient Needs: D-2
Feedback: Intravenous acyclovir, if started early, is effective in significantly reducing the
pain and halting the progression of the disease. There is evidence that infection is arrested if
oral antiviral agents are administered within the first 24 hours. Prednisone is an anti-
inflammatory agent used in a variety of skin disorders. Imuran is an immunosuppressive
agent used in the treatment of pemphigus. Kenalog is utilized in the treatment of psoriasis.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who has sustained second-degree burns on his left leg. A
skin graft has been used to cover the area of the burn. Nursing management of the skin graft
site includes which of the following?
A) Assisting with AROM of the skin graft site to prevent contractures
B) Keeping the affected area mobilized as much as possible
C) Applying heat to the grafted area to decrease edema
D) Using lanolin to moisten the graft site on postoperative day 2
,Ans: B
, Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 8
Patient Needs: A-1
Feedback: The nurse should instruct the patient to keep the affected part immobilized as
much as possible. When ambulation is permitted, the patient wears an elastic stocking to
counterbalance venous pressure. There may be loss of feeling or sensation in the grafted area
for a prolonged period; the application of heating pads and exposure to the sun must be
avoided to prevent burns and further skin trauma. Lanolin is used inn donor site care, to keep
the donor site soft and pliable.
5. The nurse caring for a patient with pediculosis capitis who has been prescribed
lindane (Kwell) shampoo knows that an adverse effect of this medication, when used
improperly, is which of the following?
A) Blister formation
B) Scalp erythema
C) Central nervous system toxicity
D) Increased scaling of the scalp
Ans: C
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 3
Patient Needs: D-2
Feedback: The patient should be instructed that lindane may be toxic to the central nervous
system when used improperly. Scalp redness may occur from the itching but is not related to
the lindane shampoo itself. There is no blister formation or increased scaling of the scalp when
using lindane.
6. It is important for the nurse explaining various causes of irritant contact dermatitis to
include which of the following as a potential cause of this skin disorder to prevent repeated
cases?
A) Reaction to an oral
medication B) Reaction to soap
or detergents C) Poor hygiene
D) Overhydration of the skin
