Comprehensive Guide to Skin Cancer for NCLEX Questions: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Question A 45-year-old fair-skinned individual presents to the clinic with a mole on the back that has recently changed in size, color, and shape. The nurse should recognize these changes as potential signs of:
A) Psoriasis
B) Eczema
C) Melanoma
D) Basal cell carcinoma
E) Squamous cell carcinoma


Rationale: Changes in size, color, and shape of a mole are indicative of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Psoriasis and eczema are chronic skin conditions unrelated to malignancy. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma typically present with different clinical features, such as non-healing sores or raised growths, but melanoma specifically manifests as changes in existing moles.

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Question A patient with a history of excessive sun exposure presents with a lesion that appears as a pearly, translucent bump with visible blood vessels. The nurse suspects:
A) Seborrheic keratosis
B) Melanoma
C) Actinic keratosis
D) Basal cell carcinoma
E) Squamous cell carcinoma


Rationale: The description of a pearly, translucent bump with visible blood vessels is characteristic of basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer. Seborrheic keratosis is a benign skin growth, while melanoma, actinic keratosis, and squamous cell carcinoma typically present with different clinical features.

Understanding Skin Cancer: NCLEX Priority Questions

Question A 60-year-old patient with a history of chronic sun exposure complains of a persistent, scaly red patch on the face that does not heal. The nurse should suspect:
A) Psoriasis
B) Eczema
C) Melanoma
D) Basal cell carcinoma
E) Squamous cell carcinoma


Rationale: The presence of a persistent, scaly red patch that does not heal is characteristic of squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. Psoriasis and eczema are chronic skin conditions with different clinical manifestations, while melanoma and basal cell carcinoma typically present with different features such as changes in moles or translucent bumps.

Understanding the Skin Cancer: NCLEX Delegation Questions

Question A 50-year-old individual with a family history of skin cancer and a history of sunburns presents to the dermatology clinic with a new, dark-colored lesion on the arm. The nurse should prioritize educating the patient about the importance of:
A) Wearing dark-colored clothing
B) Applying sunscreen with a low SPF
C) Avoiding sun exposure during peak hours
D) Using tanning beds for controlled UV exposure
E) Regular skin self-examinations


Rationale: Given the patient’s risk factors and the presence of a new dark-colored lesion, educating about regular skin self-examinations is crucial for early detection of potential skin cancers, including melanoma. Wearing dark-colored clothing and using tanning beds are not preventive measures and may increase the risk of skin damage. Applying sunscreen with a high SPF and avoiding sun exposure during peak hours are important but do not address the need for regular self-examinations.

Understanding Skin Cancer: Causes and Symptoms

Question A 40-year-old fair-skinned individual presents with a rough, scaly patch on the face that occasionally bleeds. The nurse suspects:
A) Melanoma
B) Basal cell carcinoma
C) Squamous cell carcinoma
D) Seborrheic keratosis
E) Actinic keratosis


Rationale: The description of a rough, scaly patch that occasionally bleeds is indicative of squamous cell carcinoma. Unlike melanoma, which often presents as changes in moles, and basal cell carcinoma, which manifests as a pearly bump, squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by persistent, non-healing sores or patches. Seborrheic keratosis is a benign growth, and actinic keratosis typically appears as a precancerous lesion rather than a bleeding patch.

NCLEX Practice Questions: Understanding Skin Cancer Causes and Symptoms

Question A 55-year-old individual with a history of chronic sun exposure complains of a painless, shiny nodule on the nose. The nurse should suspect:
A) Psoriasis
B) Eczema
C) Melanoma
D) Basal cell carcinoma
E) Dermatofibroma


Rationale: The painless, shiny nodule on the nose is characteristic of basal cell carcinoma, a common skin cancer. Psoriasis and eczema are chronic skin conditions with different clinical presentations. Melanoma typically presents with changes in moles, and dermatofibroma is a benign growth, unlike basal cell carcinoma, which often appears as a painless, shiny nodule on sun-exposed areas.

NCLEX Questions: Focus on Medications for Skin Cancer

Question A 30-year-old individual presents to the dermatology clinic with a new, irregularly shaped mole on the back. The nurse should recognize this finding as concerning for:
A) Seborrheic keratosis
B) Basal cell carcinoma
C) Actinic keratosis
D) Melanoma
E) Squamous cell carcinoma


Rationale: The presence of an irregularly shaped mole raises suspicion for melanoma, a potentially aggressive form of skin cancer. Seborrheic keratosis and actinic keratosis are benign or precancerous growths, respectively, while basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma typically present with different clinical features. Timely identification and referral for further evaluation are crucial in suspected melanoma cases.

NCLEX Questions Critical Thinking: Skin Cancer Symptoms

Question A 45-year-old individual with a history of sun exposure reports a persistent, non-healing sore on the face. The nurse should suspect:
A) Psoriasis
B) Eczema
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Dermatofibroma
E) Melanoma


Rationale: The description of a persistent, non-healing sore on the face is characteristic of basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer. Psoriasis and eczema are chronic skin conditions with different clinical manifestations, while melanoma typically presents with changes in moles. Dermatofibroma is a benign growth and is not associated with non-healing sores.

Question A 50-year-old fair-skinned individual presents with a red, scaly patch on the arm that has been present for several months. The nurse should suspect:
A) Melanoma
B) Basal cell carcinoma
C) Squamous cell carcinoma
D) Seborrheic keratosis
E) Dermatofibroma


Rationale: The presence of a red, scaly patch that persists for several months is indicative of squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. Melanoma often presents with changes in moles, while basal cell carcinoma typically appears as a pearly bump. Seborrheic keratosis and dermatofibroma are benign skin growths and do not exhibit the persistent, scaly characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma.

Question A 60-year-old individual presents with a raised, flesh-colored nodule on the chest. The nurse should consider the possibility of:
A) Seborrheic keratosis
B) Melanoma
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Dermatofibroma
E) Actinic keratosis


Rationale: The presence of a raised, flesh-colored nodule on the chest is characteristic of basal cell carcinoma, a common and typically slow-growing skin cancer. Seborrheic keratosis, melanoma, and actinic keratosis present with different features, while dermatofibroma is a benign growth and does not typically manifest as a flesh-colored nodule. Early recognition and intervention are important in managing basal cell carcinoma.

Comprehensive Guide to Skin Cancer for NCLEX

Question A 40-year-old individual with fair skin and a history of sunburns presents to the clinic with a new, dark-colored lesion on the back. The nurse should recognize this as a potential sign of:
A) Seborrheic keratosis
B) Basal cell carcinoma
C) Actinic keratosis
D) Melanoma
E) Squamous cell carcinoma


Rationale: The appearance of a new, dark-colored lesion on fair skin, especially in individuals with a history of sunburns, raises suspicion for melanoma. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that often presents with changes in the color, size, or shape of existing moles. Seborrheic keratosis is a benign growth, while basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma typically present with different clinical features. Early recognition is crucial for prompt intervention in potential melanoma cases.

qbankproacademy.com, Anatomy of the skin
Skin Anatomy

Question A 50-year-old patient with a history of chronic sun exposure presents with a red, scaly patch on the face that has been gradually increasing in size. The nurse should suspect:
A) Melanoma
B) Basal cell carcinoma
C) Squamous cell carcinoma
D) Dermatofibroma
E) Actinic keratosis


Rationale: The presentation of a red, scaly patch on the face that is gradually increasing in size is indicative of squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. Melanoma typically involves changes in moles, while basal cell carcinoma often presents with different features. Dermatofibroma is a benign growth, and actinic keratosis is a precancerous lesion. Recognizing the specific characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma helps in early diagnosis and appropriate management.

Question A 60-year-old individual presents with a raised, pearly bump on the nose. The nurse should consider the possibility of:
A) Psoriasis
B) Eczema
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Dermatofibroma
E) Melanoma


Rationale: The presence of a raised, pearly bump on the nose is characteristic of basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. Psoriasis and eczema are chronic skin conditions with different clinical features, while melanoma often involves changes in moles. Dermatofibroma is a benign growth and does not typically appear as a pearly bump. Recognizing the specific characteristics aids in the accurate identification of skin cancers for appropriate intervention.