NUR 6001 Exams 1–3 – Advanced Health
Assessment – (2026) Actual Questions &
Answers (WPU)
📘 NUR 6001 — EXAM 1
1.1 Which layer of epidermis is mostly found in the skin on hands and feet?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum lucidum
C. Stratum granulosum
D. Stratum germinativum
✅ Answer: B. Stratum lucidum
Rationale: The stratum lucidum is a translucent layer found only in thick skin such as the
palms and soles. It provides additional protection in high-friction areas, which is crucial in
advanced skin assessment.
1.2 Most hair follicles originate in which level of the skin?
A. Epidermis
B. Subcutaneous layer
C. Adipose layer
D. Dermis
✅ Answer: D. Dermis
Rationale: Hair follicles are anchored in the dermis where they are supplied by blood vessels
and surrounded by sebaceous glands. Recognizing dermal structures is key when assessing
wounds and inflammatory skin conditions.
1.3 A patient's chart mentions that their particular skin ailment is confluent. What does this
describe?
,A. Morphology
B. Structure
C. Distribution
D. Turgor
✅ Answer: C. Distribution
Rationale: "Confluent" describes how lesions merge or run together, which is a pattern of
distribution rather than lesion type. Accurate terminology about distribution supports precise
dermatologic documentation in advanced assessment.
1.4 A patient presents with red papules and areas of plaque on her skin and irregular
formations of exfoliated, keratinized cells. What is the most likely ailment?
A. Psoriasis
B. Eczema
C. Acne
D. Discoid lupus
✅ Answer: A. Psoriasis
Rationale: Psoriasis typically presents with erythematous plaques covered by silvery,
keratinized scales. Differentiating these from eczematous or acneiform lesions is fundamental
in adult skin assessment.
1.5 The physician has determined that plaque on a patient's skin is less likely granuloma
annulare and more likely a dermatophyte. How did she make this determination?
A. Noticed red papules
B. Tested the apocrine secretions
C. Scraped the skin with a 15 blade
D. Pared the surface
✅ Answer: C. Scraped the skin with a 15 blade
Rationale: Skin scraping with a blade for KOH prep is a standard method to identify
dermatophyte infections. Granuloma annulare is a noninfectious dermatosis and will not show
fungal elements on scraping.
,1.6 An area of the patient's arm has very smooth skin and lacks any apparent superficial
features. This is likely what?
A. Psoriasis
B. Hypokeratinization
C. A scar
D. A skin tag
✅ Answer: C. A scar
Rationale: Mature scars often appear smooth, shiny, and lack normal skin markings such as
hair and pores. Recognizing scar characteristics aids in differentiating them from primary
lesions.
1.7 A patient with greasy, adherent scales on coalescing macules along the brow and scalp
most likely has what form of dermatitis?
A. Allergic contact
B. Seborrheic
C. Stasis
D. Atopic
✅ Answer: B. Seborrheic
Rationale: Seborrheic dermatitis classically presents with greasy, yellowish scales on
sebaceous-rich areas like the scalp, brows, and nasolabial folds. This pattern is distinct from
the distribution of atopic or stasis dermatitis.
1.8 A 45-year-old male presents with a raised, flesh-colored, dome-shaped nodule on his
back that has been slowly growing for 2 years. On palpation, it feels soft and fluctuant. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Melanoma
B. Epidermoid (sebaceous) cyst
C. Lipoma
D. Basal cell carcinoma
✅ Answer: B. Epidermoid (sebaceous) cyst
, Rationale: Epidermoid cysts are common, benign, slowly growing, flesh-colored dome-shaped
nodules that are soft and fluctuant on palpation. They often have a central punctum. Lipomas
are softer and more mobile; melanomas are pigmented and irregular; BCC is typically pearly
with telangiectasias.
1.9 When assessing a pigmented skin lesion using the ABCDE criteria, which of the following
findings is MOST concerning for melanoma?
A. A 3 mm round, uniformly tan macule
B. A 7 mm lesion with irregular borders, multiple colors, and recent changes in size
C. A symmetrical, evenly pigmented 4 mm papule present since childhood
D. A flat, uniformly brown lesion with smooth borders in a sun-exposed area
✅ Answer: B. A 7 mm lesion with irregular borders, multiple colors, and recent changes in
size
Rationale: The ABCDE criteria for melanoma: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation,
Diameter >6mm, and Evolution (change). Multiple concerning features in one lesion
significantly increase suspicion for melanoma and warrant urgent biopsy.
1.10 A patient has a skin lesion described as a fluid-filled elevation less than 1 cm in diameter.
What is the correct terminology for this lesion?
A. Bulla
B. Macule
C. Vesicle
D. Pustule
✅ Answer: C. Vesicle
Rationale: A vesicle is a circumscribed, fluid-filled elevation of the skin less than 1 cm. A bulla
is >1 cm. A macule is flat and non-palpable. A pustule contains purulent fluid. Accurate lesion
terminology is the foundation of dermatological assessment.
1.11 During a fundoscopic examination, you notice arteriovenous (AV) nicking at several
crossing points. This finding is most associated with which condition?
A. Diabetic retinopathy
Assessment – (2026) Actual Questions &
Answers (WPU)
📘 NUR 6001 — EXAM 1
1.1 Which layer of epidermis is mostly found in the skin on hands and feet?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum lucidum
C. Stratum granulosum
D. Stratum germinativum
✅ Answer: B. Stratum lucidum
Rationale: The stratum lucidum is a translucent layer found only in thick skin such as the
palms and soles. It provides additional protection in high-friction areas, which is crucial in
advanced skin assessment.
1.2 Most hair follicles originate in which level of the skin?
A. Epidermis
B. Subcutaneous layer
C. Adipose layer
D. Dermis
✅ Answer: D. Dermis
Rationale: Hair follicles are anchored in the dermis where they are supplied by blood vessels
and surrounded by sebaceous glands. Recognizing dermal structures is key when assessing
wounds and inflammatory skin conditions.
1.3 A patient's chart mentions that their particular skin ailment is confluent. What does this
describe?
,A. Morphology
B. Structure
C. Distribution
D. Turgor
✅ Answer: C. Distribution
Rationale: "Confluent" describes how lesions merge or run together, which is a pattern of
distribution rather than lesion type. Accurate terminology about distribution supports precise
dermatologic documentation in advanced assessment.
1.4 A patient presents with red papules and areas of plaque on her skin and irregular
formations of exfoliated, keratinized cells. What is the most likely ailment?
A. Psoriasis
B. Eczema
C. Acne
D. Discoid lupus
✅ Answer: A. Psoriasis
Rationale: Psoriasis typically presents with erythematous plaques covered by silvery,
keratinized scales. Differentiating these from eczematous or acneiform lesions is fundamental
in adult skin assessment.
1.5 The physician has determined that plaque on a patient's skin is less likely granuloma
annulare and more likely a dermatophyte. How did she make this determination?
A. Noticed red papules
B. Tested the apocrine secretions
C. Scraped the skin with a 15 blade
D. Pared the surface
✅ Answer: C. Scraped the skin with a 15 blade
Rationale: Skin scraping with a blade for KOH prep is a standard method to identify
dermatophyte infections. Granuloma annulare is a noninfectious dermatosis and will not show
fungal elements on scraping.
,1.6 An area of the patient's arm has very smooth skin and lacks any apparent superficial
features. This is likely what?
A. Psoriasis
B. Hypokeratinization
C. A scar
D. A skin tag
✅ Answer: C. A scar
Rationale: Mature scars often appear smooth, shiny, and lack normal skin markings such as
hair and pores. Recognizing scar characteristics aids in differentiating them from primary
lesions.
1.7 A patient with greasy, adherent scales on coalescing macules along the brow and scalp
most likely has what form of dermatitis?
A. Allergic contact
B. Seborrheic
C. Stasis
D. Atopic
✅ Answer: B. Seborrheic
Rationale: Seborrheic dermatitis classically presents with greasy, yellowish scales on
sebaceous-rich areas like the scalp, brows, and nasolabial folds. This pattern is distinct from
the distribution of atopic or stasis dermatitis.
1.8 A 45-year-old male presents with a raised, flesh-colored, dome-shaped nodule on his
back that has been slowly growing for 2 years. On palpation, it feels soft and fluctuant. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Melanoma
B. Epidermoid (sebaceous) cyst
C. Lipoma
D. Basal cell carcinoma
✅ Answer: B. Epidermoid (sebaceous) cyst
, Rationale: Epidermoid cysts are common, benign, slowly growing, flesh-colored dome-shaped
nodules that are soft and fluctuant on palpation. They often have a central punctum. Lipomas
are softer and more mobile; melanomas are pigmented and irregular; BCC is typically pearly
with telangiectasias.
1.9 When assessing a pigmented skin lesion using the ABCDE criteria, which of the following
findings is MOST concerning for melanoma?
A. A 3 mm round, uniformly tan macule
B. A 7 mm lesion with irregular borders, multiple colors, and recent changes in size
C. A symmetrical, evenly pigmented 4 mm papule present since childhood
D. A flat, uniformly brown lesion with smooth borders in a sun-exposed area
✅ Answer: B. A 7 mm lesion with irregular borders, multiple colors, and recent changes in
size
Rationale: The ABCDE criteria for melanoma: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation,
Diameter >6mm, and Evolution (change). Multiple concerning features in one lesion
significantly increase suspicion for melanoma and warrant urgent biopsy.
1.10 A patient has a skin lesion described as a fluid-filled elevation less than 1 cm in diameter.
What is the correct terminology for this lesion?
A. Bulla
B. Macule
C. Vesicle
D. Pustule
✅ Answer: C. Vesicle
Rationale: A vesicle is a circumscribed, fluid-filled elevation of the skin less than 1 cm. A bulla
is >1 cm. A macule is flat and non-palpable. A pustule contains purulent fluid. Accurate lesion
terminology is the foundation of dermatological assessment.
1.11 During a fundoscopic examination, you notice arteriovenous (AV) nicking at several
crossing points. This finding is most associated with which condition?
A. Diabetic retinopathy
