NCLEX Deck

Integumentary

NCLEX Clinical Study Booklet · 10 cards

Contents

Burns.

Emergency
What is Burns?
  • Tissue damage from heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation.
  • Classified by depth and % TBSA (Rule of Nines).
What are the Causes / Risk Factors?
  • Thermal (fire, scald)
  • Chemical
  • Electrical
  • Radiation
What are the Symptoms?
  • Superficial: red, painful (like sunburn)
  • Partial-thickness: blisters, very painful
  • Full-thickness: white/charred, painLESS
  • Fluid shifts → hypovolemia
  • Inhalation injury (facial burns, soot)
How is it Diagnosed?
  • Rule of Nines (% TBSA)
  • Depth assessment
  • Monitor airway, fluids, labs
What is the Treatment?
  • AIRWAY first (inhalation injury)
  • Fluid resuscitation (Parkland formula, LR)
  • Pain control; wound care; infection prevention
  • Monitor for hypovolemic shock, then overload
NCLEX TipAirway is the priority in burns (inhalation injury). Then aggressive fluid resuscitation. Full-thickness burns are painless.
© NCLEX Deck1 / 10

Pressure Injury.

Wound
What is Pressure Injury?
  • Localized skin/tissue damage over a bony prominence from pressure.
  • Staged I–IV (plus unstageable).
What are the Causes / Risk Factors?
  • Immobility, prolonged pressure
  • Shear / friction
  • Moisture, poor nutrition
  • Decreased sensation / perfusion
What are the Symptoms?
  • Stage 1: non-blanchable redness
  • Stage 2: partial-thickness, blister/abrasion
  • Stage 3: full-thickness, subcutaneous fat
  • Stage 4: exposed muscle / bone
How is it Diagnosed?
  • Skin assessment (Braden scale for risk)
  • Wound staging
What is the Treatment?
  • REPOSITION every 2 hours
  • Pressure-relief surfaces; keep skin clean/dry
  • Nutrition (protein); manage moisture
  • Wound care by stage
NCLEX TipPrevention is key: reposition every 2 hours, keep skin clean and dry, use the Braden scale, and optimize nutrition.
© NCLEX Deck2 / 10

Cellulitis.

Infection
What is Cellulitis?
  • Bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.
  • Usually Streptococcus or Staphylococcus.
What are the Causes / Risk Factors?
  • Break in the skin (cut, ulcer, bite)
  • Diabetes, poor circulation
  • Lymphedema
What are the Symptoms?
  • Red, warm, swollen, tender area
  • Spreading erythema (mark borders)
  • Fever
  • Streaking (lymphangitis)
How is it Diagnosed?
  • Clinical exam
  • ↑WBC
  • Wound culture if drainage
What is the Treatment?
  • Antibiotics
  • Elevate the affected area
  • Warm compresses
  • Mark borders to monitor spread
NCLEX TipMark the borders of the redness to track whether cellulitis is spreading or improving with antibiotics.
© NCLEX Deck3 / 10

Melanoma / Skin Cancer.

Cancer
What is Melanoma / Skin Cancer?
  • Malignancy of melanocytes — the most dangerous skin cancer.
  • Can metastasize.
What are the Causes / Risk Factors?
  • UV / sun exposure, tanning beds
  • Fair skin, many moles
  • Family history
  • Immunosuppression
What are the Symptoms?
  • ABCDE: Asymmetry, Border irregular, Color varied, Diameter >6mm, Evolving
  • Changing mole
  • New or unusual growth
  • Itching / bleeding lesion
How is it Diagnosed?
  • Biopsy (definitive)
  • Dermoscopy
  • Staging if malignant
What is the Treatment?
  • Surgical excision
  • Immunotherapy, targeted therapy (advanced)
  • Sun protection (SPF, avoid peak sun)
  • Skin self-exams; monitor for recurrence
NCLEX TipAssess moles with ABCDE: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter >6mm, Evolving. Teach sun protection and skin self-exams.
© NCLEX Deck4 / 10

Herpes Zoster (Shingles).

Infection
What is Herpes Zoster (Shingles)?
  • Reactivation of the varicella (chickenpox) virus.
  • Painful vesicular rash along a dermatome.
What are the Causes / Risk Factors?
  • Prior chickenpox (dormant virus)
  • Reactivation with age, stress, immunosuppression
What are the Symptoms?
  • Unilateral painful vesicular rash along a dermatome (does not cross midline)
  • Burning/tingling before the rash
  • Fever, malaise
  • Postherpetic neuralgia (lingering pain)
How is it Diagnosed?
  • Clinical (dermatomal rash)
  • Viral culture / PCR
What is the Treatment?
  • Antivirals (acyclovir) — start early
  • Pain control
  • Keep lesions clean and dry
  • Airborne + contact precautions if disseminated; vaccine prevents
NCLEX TipShingles follows a dermatome and doesn't cross the midline. Start antivirals early; contagious to non-immune people until crusted.
© NCLEX Deck5 / 10

Psoriasis.

Chronic
What is Psoriasis?
  • Chronic autoimmune skin disorder — rapid skin cell turnover.
  • Silvery, scaly plaques.
What are the Causes / Risk Factors?
  • Autoimmune
  • Genetic
  • Triggers: stress, infection, cold, skin trauma
What are the Symptoms?
  • Silvery scaly plaques (elbows, knees, scalp)
  • Itching, sometimes painful
  • Nail pitting
  • Remissions / exacerbations
  • Psoriatic arthritis (some)
How is it Diagnosed?
  • Clinical exam
  • Skin biopsy if unclear
What is the Treatment?
  • Topical corticosteroids, vitamin D analogs
  • Phototherapy (UV)
  • Systemic / biologics (severe)
  • Moisturize; manage triggers & stress
NCLEX TipPsoriasis = silvery scaly plaques from rapid cell turnover. It is not contagious. Treat with topicals, phototherapy, or biologics.
© NCLEX Deck6 / 10

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Emergency
What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?
  • Severe, life-threatening skin reaction (often drug-induced).
  • Widespread blistering and skin sloughing.
What are the Causes / Risk Factors?
  • Medications (sulfa, anticonvulsants, allopurinol, antibiotics)
  • Infections
What are the Symptoms?
  • Flu-like prodrome
  • Painful red/purple rash → blisters
  • Skin sloughing (like a burn)
  • Mucous membrane involvement (mouth, eyes)
  • +Nikolsky's sign
How is it Diagnosed?
  • Clinical
  • Skin biopsy
  • Identify the causative drug
What is the Treatment?
  • STOP the causative drug immediately
  • Supportive care (treat like a major burn — fluids, wound care)
  • Often ICU / burn unit
  • Infection & fluid management
NCLEX TipStevens-Johnson is a dermatologic emergency — stop the offending drug immediately and treat like a major burn.
© NCLEX Deck7 / 10

Eczema / Atopic Dermatitis.

Chronic
What is Eczema / Atopic Dermatitis?
  • Chronic inflammatory skin condition with dry, itchy skin.
  • Part of the atopic triad (asthma, allergies).
What are the Causes / Risk Factors?
  • Genetic / atopic tendency
  • Irritants, allergens
  • Dry skin, stress, heat
What are the Symptoms?
  • Dry, red, intensely itchy skin
  • Scratching → lichenification
  • Flexural areas (elbows, knees)
  • Exacerbations & remissions
How is it Diagnosed?
  • Clinical exam
  • History of atopy
What is the Treatment?
  • Moisturize frequently (key)
  • Topical corticosteroids
  • Avoid triggers/irritants; lukewarm baths
  • Antihistamines for itch; keep nails short
NCLEX TipMoisturizing is the cornerstone of eczema care. Avoid hot water and irritants; keep nails short to reduce scratching damage.
© NCLEX Deck8 / 10

Wound Healing.

Wound
Phases
  • Hemostasis (clotting)
  • Inflammatory (redness, swelling — normal early)
  • Proliferative (granulation tissue, new skin)
  • Maturation / remodeling (scar strengthens)
Healthy vs Concerning
  • Healthy: pink/red granulation, decreasing drainage
  • Infection: increasing redness/warmth, purulent/foul drainage, fever
  • Dehiscence: wound edges separate
  • Evisceration: organs protrude (emergency)
Nursing Care
  • Sterile technique for dressing changes
  • Nutrition: protein, vitamin C, zinc
  • Keep wound moist (not wet); manage drainage
  • Evisceration: cover with sterile saline gauze, NPO, notify surgeon
NCLEX TipSigns of wound infection: increasing redness/warmth, purulent or foul drainage, and fever. Protein and vitamin C support healing.
© NCLEX Deck9 / 10

Contact Dermatitis.

Chronic
What is Contact Dermatitis?
  • Localized skin inflammation from contact with an irritant or allergen.
  • Irritant vs allergic.
What are the Causes / Risk Factors?
  • Allergens (poison ivy, nickel, latex)
  • Irritants (chemicals, soaps)
  • Cosmetics, plants
What are the Symptoms?
  • Red, itchy rash at the contact site
  • Vesicles, weeping (allergic)
  • Burning / stinging
  • Well-demarcated to the exposure area
How is it Diagnosed?
  • History of exposure
  • Patch testing (allergic)
What is the Treatment?
  • Remove / avoid the offending agent
  • Topical corticosteroids
  • Antihistamines; cool compresses
  • Wash the skin after exposure
NCLEX TipIdentify and remove the offending agent. Wash the skin after exposure; topical steroids and antihistamines relieve symptoms.
© NCLEX Deck10 / 10
No topics match your search.