Nurse Practitioner Certification Study
Exam Questions & Answers.
primary lesion - CORRECT ANSWER lesion that develops on previously unaltered skin
lesion - CORRECT ANSWER a region in an organ or tissue that has suffered damage thru injury or disease
secondary lesion - CORRECT ANSWER lesion that either changes impression over time or occurs when a
primary lesion is scratched it may be infected
macule - CORRECT ANSWER circumscribed flat area; different color and texture from surrounding
tissue, <1cm
ex.) ephelides (freckles), petechia, flat nevi (moles)
patch - CORRECT ANSWER a large macule; >1cm
ex.) mongolian spot, Cafe, au lair spot
papule - CORRECT ANSWER Small solid elevated lesion; <1cm
ex.) bug bite, elevated nevus (mole) or verruca (wart)
plaque - CORRECT ANSWER elevation of skin; >1cm; example psoriasis lesion
pustule - CORRECT ANSWER a visible accumulation of purulent fluid under skin; <1cm; examples acne
and impetigo
vesicle - CORRECT ANSWER a circumscribed elevation of skin contains "SEROUS FLUID: <1cm; examples,
herpes simples, varicella, shingles
,nodule - CORRECT ANSWER solid mass of skin, is elevated or palpated >1cm; often extends deeper into
dermis: examples xanthoma and fibroma
bulla - CORRECT ANSWER blister, circumscribed elevation containing fluid >1cm , extends only into
epidermis, examples burns, superficial blister, contact dermatitis
wheal - CORRECT ANSWER elevated white or pink compressible papule or plaque, a red, axon-mediated
flare often surround it, commonly associated with allergic reaction, examples PPD test and mosquito
bites
cyst - CORRECT ANSWER any closed cavity or sac; contains fluid or semisolid material, normal or
abnormal epithelium. example sebaceous cyst
Abscess - CORRECT ANSWER a localized collection of purulent fluid in a cavity formed by disintegration
or necrosis of tissues >1cm
tumor - CORRECT ANSWER "MASS: > few cm in diameter; firm or soft; benign or malignant
configuration: annular - CORRECT ANSWER circular, begins in center and spreads to periphery
configuration: confluent - CORRECT ANSWER lesions run together
configuration: grouped - CORRECT ANSWER lesion cluster
configuration: gyrate - CORRECT ANSWER twisted, coiled, spiral and snake like
configuration: linear - CORRECT ANSWER scratch, streak, line stripe
configuration: polycyclic - CORRECT ANSWER annular lesions merge
, configuration: solitary or discrete - CORRECT ANSWER individual and distinct lesions that remain
separate
configuration: target (iris) - CORRECT ANSWER resembles iris of eye; lesion with concentric rings of color
configuration: zosteriform - CORRECT ANSWER linear arrangement along nerve route
comedones - CORRECT ANSWER open are called black heads (openings capped with a blackened skin
debris); and closed are called white head (obstructed)
acne - CORRECT ANSWER can be comedones, pustules, papules (pimples and zits), cysts, nodules and
scaring
nonpharmacological management of acne - CORRECT ANSWER wash several times daily with soap and
water; avoid topical oil based; use oil free cleansers and moisterizers
pharmacological management of acne - CORRECT ANSWER comedolytic agents: benzoyl peroxice,
salicylic acid, topical antibiotics (clindamycin, erythromycin, tetracycline and metronidazole for rosacea).
May consider oral antibiotics and oral contraceptives
folliculitis - CORRECT ANSWER inflammation of hair follicle; common cause staphylococci
furuncle - CORRECT ANSWER "boil" localized infection in hair follicle, caused by staph
carbuncle - CORRECT ANSWER >furuncle; may be necrotizing, staph
cellulitis - CORRECT ANSWER most common causes: out patients strep ; inpatient: gram negative (ecoli,
klebsiels, psuedomonsa, enterbacter, staph aureus and strep
MRSA - CORRECT ANSWER trimethoprm-sulfamethoxazole (bactrim); doxy, clindamycin
