Exam Solution Manual for Clinical Care For Patients with Skin Disorders
1.What should the nurse do when administering a therapeutic bath to a patient who has severe
pruritus?
a. Use Burows solution to help promote healing
b. Rub the skin briskly to decrease pruritus
c. Limit bathing to 3 times a week
d. Ensure that bath area is at least 85 degrees and dehumidified - Answers :A
Pruritus is responsible for most of the discomfort. Wet dressings and using Burows solution help
promote the healing process. A cool environment with increased humidity decreases the pruritus. Give
daily baths with an application to cleanse the skin
2.A frail, older adult home health patient who had chickenpox as a child has been exposed to varicella
(chickenpox) several days ago. What should the nurse do?
a. Assess frequently for herpes zoster
b. Be aware of the patients immunity to chickenpox
c. Encourage the patient to have a pneumonia vaccine
d. Arrange for the patient to receive gamma globulin - Answers A
Herpes zoster is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (Herpes varicella). The greatest risk
occurs to patients who have a lowered resistance to infection, such as those on chemotherapy, aging, or
receiving large doses of prednisone, in whom the disease could be fatal because of the patients
compromised immune system.
3.A patient has herpes zoster (shingles) and is being treated with acyclovir (Zovirax). What should the
nurse do when administering this drug?
a. Apply lightly, being careful not to completely cover the lesion
b. After application, wrap in warm wet dressings
c. Use gloves
d. Rub medication into lesions - Answers C
, The topical application requires that the nurse uses gloves, completely covers the lesion gently, then
leaves it open to the air.
4.A child has been sent to the school nurse with pruritus and honey-colored crusts on the lower lip and
chin. The nurse believes these lesions most likely are:
a. chickenpox.
b. impetigo.
c. shingles.
d. herpes simplex type I. - Answers B
Impetigo is seen at all ages, but is particularly common in children. The crust is honey-colored and easily
removed and is associated with pruritus. The disease is highly contagious and spreads by contact
5.A school nurse assesses a child who has an erythematous circular patch of vesicles on her scalp with
alopecia and complains of pain and pruritus. Why would the nurse use a Woods lamp?
a. To dry out the lesions
b. To reduce the pruritus
c. To kill the fungus
d. To cause fluorescence of the infected hairs - Answers D
Tinea capitis is commonly known as ringworm of the scalp. Microsporum audouinii is the major fungal
pathogen. The use of the diagnostic Woods lamp causes the infected hairs to turn a brilliant blue green.
6.A patient, age 46, reports to his physicians office with urticaria with elevated lesions that are white in
the center with a pale red border on hands and arms. He says, It itches like crazy. Which type of lesion
would the nurse include in her documentation?
a. Macules
b. Plaques
c. Wheals
d. Vesicles - Answers C
1.What should the nurse do when administering a therapeutic bath to a patient who has severe
pruritus?
a. Use Burows solution to help promote healing
b. Rub the skin briskly to decrease pruritus
c. Limit bathing to 3 times a week
d. Ensure that bath area is at least 85 degrees and dehumidified - Answers :A
Pruritus is responsible for most of the discomfort. Wet dressings and using Burows solution help
promote the healing process. A cool environment with increased humidity decreases the pruritus. Give
daily baths with an application to cleanse the skin
2.A frail, older adult home health patient who had chickenpox as a child has been exposed to varicella
(chickenpox) several days ago. What should the nurse do?
a. Assess frequently for herpes zoster
b. Be aware of the patients immunity to chickenpox
c. Encourage the patient to have a pneumonia vaccine
d. Arrange for the patient to receive gamma globulin - Answers A
Herpes zoster is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (Herpes varicella). The greatest risk
occurs to patients who have a lowered resistance to infection, such as those on chemotherapy, aging, or
receiving large doses of prednisone, in whom the disease could be fatal because of the patients
compromised immune system.
3.A patient has herpes zoster (shingles) and is being treated with acyclovir (Zovirax). What should the
nurse do when administering this drug?
a. Apply lightly, being careful not to completely cover the lesion
b. After application, wrap in warm wet dressings
c. Use gloves
d. Rub medication into lesions - Answers C
, The topical application requires that the nurse uses gloves, completely covers the lesion gently, then
leaves it open to the air.
4.A child has been sent to the school nurse with pruritus and honey-colored crusts on the lower lip and
chin. The nurse believes these lesions most likely are:
a. chickenpox.
b. impetigo.
c. shingles.
d. herpes simplex type I. - Answers B
Impetigo is seen at all ages, but is particularly common in children. The crust is honey-colored and easily
removed and is associated with pruritus. The disease is highly contagious and spreads by contact
5.A school nurse assesses a child who has an erythematous circular patch of vesicles on her scalp with
alopecia and complains of pain and pruritus. Why would the nurse use a Woods lamp?
a. To dry out the lesions
b. To reduce the pruritus
c. To kill the fungus
d. To cause fluorescence of the infected hairs - Answers D
Tinea capitis is commonly known as ringworm of the scalp. Microsporum audouinii is the major fungal
pathogen. The use of the diagnostic Woods lamp causes the infected hairs to turn a brilliant blue green.
6.A patient, age 46, reports to his physicians office with urticaria with elevated lesions that are white in
the center with a pale red border on hands and arms. He says, It itches like crazy. Which type of lesion
would the nurse include in her documentation?
a. Macules
b. Plaques
c. Wheals
d. Vesicles - Answers C
