Nokea
The nurse is teaching a patient about the use of a wet dressing to reduce pruritus. Which of the following time frames would the nurse instruct the patient to leave the dressing on for?
- A. 5-15 minutes
- B. 10-30 minutes
- C. 30-45 minutes
- D. 45-60 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Wet dressings can be used effectively to relieve pruritus. Thin cotton sheets or thermal underwear is placed in warm water, wrung out, and placed over the pruritic area. After 10-30 minutes, the dressing is removed and the skin is patted dry (not rubbed) and a lubricant or medication applied. This can be done two to four times per day.
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The nurse is caring for a patient who has basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the face. Which of the following information should the nurse include when teaching this patient?
- A. Treatment plans include watchful waiting.
- B. Screening for metastasis will be important.
- C. Low-dose systemic chemotherapy is used to treat BCC.
- D. Minimizing sun exposure will reduce risk for future BCC.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: BCC is frequently associated with sun exposure. BCC spread locally, but do not metastasize to distant tissues. Since BCC can cause local tissue destruction, treatment is indicated. Local chemotherapy may be used to treat BCC.
The health care provider diagnoses impetigo for a patient who has crusty vesicopustular lesions on the lower face. Which of the following topics would the nurse include in the teaching plan for this patient?
- A. Avoidance of antibiotic ointments on the lesions
- B. How to clean the infected areas with soap and water
- C. Use of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to soften crusty areas
- D. Appropriate use of alcohol-based cleansers on the lesions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The treatment for impetigo includes softening of the crusts with warm saline soaks and then soap-and-water removal. Alcohol-based cleansers and use of petroleum jelly are not recommended for impetigo. Antibiotic ointments may be applied to the lesions.
The health care provider prescribes topical 5-fluorourracil (5-FU) for a patient with actinic keratosis on the nose. Which of the following information would the nurse include in the patient teaching plan?
- A. You may develop hauses and anorexia, but good nutrition is important during treatment.
- B. You will need to avoid crowds because of the risk for infection caused by chemotherapy.
- C. The nose will develop painful, eroded areas that will take weeks before completely healing.
- D. 5-FU is needed to shrink the lesion so that less scarring occurs once the lesion is excised.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Topical 5-FU causes an initial reaction of erythema, itching, and erosion, which lasts 4 weeks after application of the medication is stopped. The medication is topical, so there are no systemic effects such as increased infection risk, anorexia, or nausea. Actinic keratosis is not usually treated with excision.
A patient with atopic dermatitis has a new prescription for tacrolimus. After teaching the patient about the medication, which statement by the patient indicates that further teaching is needed?
- A. After I apply the medication, I can go ahead and get dressed as usual.
- B. I will rub the medication gently onto the skin every morning and night.
- C. I will need to minimize my time in the sun while I am using the tacrolimus.
- D. If the medication burns when I apply it, I will wipe it off and call the doctor.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The patient should be taught that transient burning at the application site is an expected effect of tacrolimus and that the medication should be left in place. The other statements by the patient are accurate and indicate that patient teaching has been effective.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has just received a diagnosis of a fungal infection and the patient asks the nurse how this will be treated. The nurses' response is based upon knowledge that which of the following bases is the most common for antifungal treatment?
- A. Gel
- B. Paste
- C. Lotion
- D. Powder
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Powder is the most common base for antifungal preparations. Gels are used for acute exudative inflammation. The paste is used when a drying effect is necessary because moisture is absorbed. A lotion is useful in treating subacute pruritic eruptions.