Skin, Nail, and Hair Assessment

When collecting subjective data related to skin health, which question would directly assess a patient's risk factors for melanoma?

A patient reports a change in a mole's characteristics. Which specific changes should the nurse prioritize for further investigation regarding potential malignancy?

A patient with a history of allergies is being assessed for skin conditions. Besides medications, which of the following allergens should the nurse specifically ask about?

When assessing a patient's risk for skin breakdown, which pre-existing condition would be most important for the nurse to consider?

During the objective data collection process for a skin assessment, which piece of equipment is essential for evaluating the characteristics of skin lesions?

A nurse is beginning a skin assessment. What is the most appropriate initial step in this process?

During a skin assessment, a nurse observes that a patient has hypopigmented palms and soles. What should the nurse consider as a possible interpretation of this finding?

A nurse identifies a ring-like, circular lesion on a patient's skin. How would the nurse document the configuration of this lesion?

A patient presents with a skin lesion that appears to be curving in a snake-like pattern. Which term best describes this configuration?

A nurse notes that a patient's skin lesions are distributed across the entire back without any discernible pattern. How should the nurse document this distribution pattern?

During a skin assessment, the nurse observes small, marked points or dots on the skin. Which term accurately describes this type of lesion?

When assessing the distribution pattern of skin lesions, the nurse finds that they appear equally on both sides of the body. Which descriptive term is most accurate for this distribution?

A nurse is differentiating between primary and secondary skin lesions. Which characteristic is exclusive to primary lesions?

A patient has a lesion that developed from prolonged scratching of a primary skin condition. How should the nurse classify this lesion?

A nurse observes a small, flat, circumscribed area on a patient's skin that is a different color than the surrounding area. What is the most appropriate term to document this?

A nurse palpates an elevated, solid lesion on a patient's skin. The lesion is less than 1 cm in diameter. Which term should the nurse use to document this finding?

When assessing a patient, the nurse observes a large, elevated, solid lesion that is greater than 1 cm in diameter. Which term is most accurate to describe this lesion?

A nurse observes a fluid-filled lesion on a patient's skin that is less than 1 cm in diameter. What is the correct term to describe this type of lesion?

A patient presents with a loss of the epidermis, revealing a shallow, moist area. Which type of secondary skin lesion is this?

A nurse assesses a patient and notes dried secretions on a skin lesion. How should the nurse document this finding?

During a skin assessment, the nurse observes a lesion with a linear crack extending into the dermis. Which term should the nurse use to document this finding?

What defining characteristic differentiates a lipoma from other skin tumors?

A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected squamous cell carcinoma. What characteristic of the lesion should the nurse expect?

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of basal cell carcinoma?

When assessing skin lesions, what is the most critical action for the nurse to take after identifying a wound or incision?

In a hospitalized patient, which assessment finding is most indicative of the need to identify the risk for skin breakdown?

Which aspect of a wound should the nurse assess to determine if it is partial- or full-thickness?

What is a key assessment finding related to fingernails that should be considered a normal variant, especially in aging patients?

During a nail assessment, the nurse observes transverse and longitudinal concavity of the nail, giving it a spoon-like appearance, Which condition is most likely?

Which condition can result in slowed or halted nail growth in response to illness, physical trauma, or poisoning?

When assessing the scalp, which characteristic of hair distribution is considered normal?

A patient presents with noninflammatory hair loss in a circumscribed distribution. Which condition is likely causing this?

A nurse is assessing a patient's skin during a physical exam. Which part of the hand should the nurse use to best assess the patient's skin temperature?

Which technique is used to assess skin turgor, an indicator of hydration status?

What observation indicates normal skin vascularity when direct pressure is applied and then released?

When performing a hair pull test, how many hairs should the nurse grasp to assess hair loss effectively?

Which statement accurately reflects a normal finding that should be documented following a skin assessment?

Documentation of hair assessment findings should include which characteristic to indicate normal hydration status?

A patient reports that several moles on their body have a snake-like curving pattern. How should the nurse document this finding?

A nurse is assessing a new skin lesion and observes that it has a central depression. Which term accurately describes this characteristic?

During a skin assessment, the nurse notes that a patient's skin is cool and clammy. Which action should the nurse take next to determine the underlying cause?

The nurse observes Beau's lines on a patient's fingernails. Which question is most important to include in the patient's history?

Upon inspecting a patient's scalp, a nurse finds that the hair is not equally distributed and identifies areas with noninflammatory hair loss. What condition is most likely causing this?