A+ Cellulitis NCLEX-style Questions with answers 2025 exam
The nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with cellulitis of the
upper left arm. Which manifestation should the nurse anticipate
finding with this client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Swollen lymph glands
A. Swollen lymph glands
D. Fever and chills
B. Pustules with surrounding erythema
E. Erythema
C. Deep, firm, painful nodule
D. Fever and chills
E. Erythema
The nurse is performing a health history for a new client in the
clinic. Which should the nurse identify as a risk factor for cellulitis
in an adult? (Select all that apply.)
A. Peripheral vascular disease
A. Peripheral vascular disease
C. Obesity
B. Hypertension
D. Diabetes mellitus
C. Obesity
D. Diabetes mellitus
E. Impetigo
The nurse collects a drainage sample to be cultured from the
affected area of a client with cellulitis. Which organism should the
nurse suspect is the most likely cause of the cellulitis?
A. Escherichia coli B. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Bacillus subtilis
D. Group A Streptococcus
The nurse is performing a health history on a client with cellulitis
that developed from a hand wound. Which factor will help deter-
mine the organism responsible for the cellulitis? (Select all that
apply.)
C. Cause of wound
A. Current medications
D. Wound exposure to contaminated water
B. History of cellulitis
C. Cause of wound
D. Wound exposure to contaminated water
E. History of diabetes
The nurse examines a wound on a client with a history of cellulitis.
Which manifestation suggests cellulitis?
A. Intact skin with nonblanchable redness and elevated borders
B. Reddened skin with indistinct borders and covered by a yellow,D. Red or lilac edematous skin with a well-defined, nonelevated
fibrous film border
C. Pink or red skin with circumscribed regular borders
D. Red or lilac edematous skin with a well-defined, nonelevated
border
The nurse is teaching the client with diabetes mellitus about pre-
vention of cellulitis. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
(Select all that apply.)
A. "Apply topical antibiotic to the wound daily."
A. "Apply topical antibiotic to the wound daily."
B. "Wear properly fitting shoes."
B. "Wear properly fitting shoes."
E. "Wash the wound carefully with soap and water."
C. "Keep wounds uncovered."
D. "Keep wounds dry."
E. "Wash the wound carefully with soap and water."
The nurse is teaching a client with cellulitis about home care
measures to increase comfort. Which instruction should the nurse
provide? (Select all that apply.)
A. "Apply ice packs to the affected area to reduce edema." B. "Apply sterile saline dressings to the affected area to promote
B. "Apply sterile saline dressings to the affected area to promotedrainage."
drainage." D. "Wash hands thoroughly before touching the affected area
C. "Keep the affected area below the level of the heart to promoteE. "Get enough rest."
circulation."
D. "Wash hands thoroughly before touching the affected area."
E. "Get enough rest."
The nurse is providing home care instruction to the client with
cellulitis. Which statement, if made by the client, should concern
1/3
The nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with cellulitis of the
upper left arm. Which manifestation should the nurse anticipate
finding with this client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Swollen lymph glands
A. Swollen lymph glands
D. Fever and chills
B. Pustules with surrounding erythema
E. Erythema
C. Deep, firm, painful nodule
D. Fever and chills
E. Erythema
The nurse is performing a health history for a new client in the
clinic. Which should the nurse identify as a risk factor for cellulitis
in an adult? (Select all that apply.)
A. Peripheral vascular disease
A. Peripheral vascular disease
C. Obesity
B. Hypertension
D. Diabetes mellitus
C. Obesity
D. Diabetes mellitus
E. Impetigo
The nurse collects a drainage sample to be cultured from the
affected area of a client with cellulitis. Which organism should the
nurse suspect is the most likely cause of the cellulitis?
A. Escherichia coli B. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Bacillus subtilis
D. Group A Streptococcus
The nurse is performing a health history on a client with cellulitis
that developed from a hand wound. Which factor will help deter-
mine the organism responsible for the cellulitis? (Select all that
apply.)
C. Cause of wound
A. Current medications
D. Wound exposure to contaminated water
B. History of cellulitis
C. Cause of wound
D. Wound exposure to contaminated water
E. History of diabetes
The nurse examines a wound on a client with a history of cellulitis.
Which manifestation suggests cellulitis?
A. Intact skin with nonblanchable redness and elevated borders
B. Reddened skin with indistinct borders and covered by a yellow,D. Red or lilac edematous skin with a well-defined, nonelevated
fibrous film border
C. Pink or red skin with circumscribed regular borders
D. Red or lilac edematous skin with a well-defined, nonelevated
border
The nurse is teaching the client with diabetes mellitus about pre-
vention of cellulitis. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
(Select all that apply.)
A. "Apply topical antibiotic to the wound daily."
A. "Apply topical antibiotic to the wound daily."
B. "Wear properly fitting shoes."
B. "Wear properly fitting shoes."
E. "Wash the wound carefully with soap and water."
C. "Keep wounds uncovered."
D. "Keep wounds dry."
E. "Wash the wound carefully with soap and water."
The nurse is teaching a client with cellulitis about home care
measures to increase comfort. Which instruction should the nurse
provide? (Select all that apply.)
A. "Apply ice packs to the affected area to reduce edema." B. "Apply sterile saline dressings to the affected area to promote
B. "Apply sterile saline dressings to the affected area to promotedrainage."
drainage." D. "Wash hands thoroughly before touching the affected area
C. "Keep the affected area below the level of the heart to promoteE. "Get enough rest."
circulation."
D. "Wash hands thoroughly before touching the affected area."
E. "Get enough rest."
The nurse is providing home care instruction to the client with
cellulitis. Which statement, if made by the client, should concern
1/3
