NURSING HEALTH ASSESSMENT -
CHAPTER 11: SKIN, HAIR, AND NAILS
ASSESSMENT. EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What do you assess for with Skin? - ANS Color, Texture, Temperature, Moisture, Turgor,
Vascularity, Lesions
What are you looking for with skin color? - ANS Pigmentation (pigmentation is consistent
throughout the body) (cyanosis, flushing, pallor, rubor, jaundice)
How/What do you look for with skin texture? - ANS Skin is smooth, soft
What/How do you look for skin temperature? - ANS While assessing other part feel the
temperature of the skin. (skin is warm consistently). (hot, cool, warm)
What/How do you look for with skin moisture? - ANS Use the palmar surface of the fingers
and hands. (moisture is consistent throughout, with evenly smooth skin texture) (dryness,
sweating, cracked)
How/ what do you look for with skin Turgor? - ANS Grasp a fold of the pt's skin (dorsal
surface of hand or arm) between your fingers and pull up, then release. (the skin recoils
promptly to its normal position)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What/ How do you look for skin and nail vascularity? - ANS Apply direct pressure to the skin
surface with the pads of your fingers. (Capillary Refill) (skin blanches when returns to previous
color)
What/ How do you test for skin lesions? - ANS look at the body; know types of lesions,
measure in size, and know how to medically describe their location on the body.
What do you assess for with Hair? - ANS color, distribution, and texture
How/ What do you asses for hair color? - ANS note changes in hair color (natural or dyed)
How/What do you assess for hair distribution? - ANS look for any places on the head or body
when there is a lack of hair (hair is symmetrically distributed on the scalp)
How/ What do you assess for hair Texture? - ANS Palpate hair, then grab 10 - 12 hairs and
gently pull. (hair should be smooth, and only a few hairs should come out in your hand)
What do you assess for with nails? - ANS Color, Nail base angle, texture, thickness, and
adherence to nail bed
What/ How do you assess for nail base angle? - ANS look for clubbing of the nails
How/ What do you assess for with nail texture? - ANS feel the nail (nail are smooth and lack
bumps or pitting)
How/What do you assess for nail thickness? - ANS Are the nails of a normal thickness?
How/What do you assess for nail adherence? - ANS Pull gently on the top of the nails with
you finger tip. Check to make sure the nail do not move or pop off. (pt's nails are adherent to
the nail bed)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
CHAPTER 11: SKIN, HAIR, AND NAILS
ASSESSMENT. EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What do you assess for with Skin? - ANS Color, Texture, Temperature, Moisture, Turgor,
Vascularity, Lesions
What are you looking for with skin color? - ANS Pigmentation (pigmentation is consistent
throughout the body) (cyanosis, flushing, pallor, rubor, jaundice)
How/What do you look for with skin texture? - ANS Skin is smooth, soft
What/How do you look for skin temperature? - ANS While assessing other part feel the
temperature of the skin. (skin is warm consistently). (hot, cool, warm)
What/How do you look for with skin moisture? - ANS Use the palmar surface of the fingers
and hands. (moisture is consistent throughout, with evenly smooth skin texture) (dryness,
sweating, cracked)
How/ what do you look for with skin Turgor? - ANS Grasp a fold of the pt's skin (dorsal
surface of hand or arm) between your fingers and pull up, then release. (the skin recoils
promptly to its normal position)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What/ How do you look for skin and nail vascularity? - ANS Apply direct pressure to the skin
surface with the pads of your fingers. (Capillary Refill) (skin blanches when returns to previous
color)
What/ How do you test for skin lesions? - ANS look at the body; know types of lesions,
measure in size, and know how to medically describe their location on the body.
What do you assess for with Hair? - ANS color, distribution, and texture
How/ What do you asses for hair color? - ANS note changes in hair color (natural or dyed)
How/What do you assess for hair distribution? - ANS look for any places on the head or body
when there is a lack of hair (hair is symmetrically distributed on the scalp)
How/ What do you assess for hair Texture? - ANS Palpate hair, then grab 10 - 12 hairs and
gently pull. (hair should be smooth, and only a few hairs should come out in your hand)
What do you assess for with nails? - ANS Color, Nail base angle, texture, thickness, and
adherence to nail bed
What/ How do you assess for nail base angle? - ANS look for clubbing of the nails
How/ What do you assess for with nail texture? - ANS feel the nail (nail are smooth and lack
bumps or pitting)
How/What do you assess for nail thickness? - ANS Are the nails of a normal thickness?
How/What do you assess for nail adherence? - ANS Pull gently on the top of the nails with
you finger tip. Check to make sure the nail do not move or pop off. (pt's nails are adherent to
the nail bed)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
