10 exam-style questions with answers and explanations, straight from our 1,030-question bank. Tap an answer to check yourself. When you're ready, take the scored version in the free practice test.
The DNC exam has 175 questions and runs 4 hours.
These 10 free DNC questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Dermatology Nurse Certified blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
Psoriasis affects approximately 2% of an adult patient's body surface area, mainly the palms. Fissuring makes dressing and food preparation difficult. The patient completes all items of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and scores 17. Which interpretation belongs in the nursing assessment?
Correct answer: C - Skin involvement is limited, but the DLQI indicates a very large quality-of-life impact.
A 7-year-old has a tender, boggy scalp plaque with broken hairs, patchy alopecia, and occipital lymphadenopathy. Microscopy of affected hairs demonstrates fungal elements. The parent has been applying an over-the-counter antifungal cream. Which treatment is needed to address this infection?
Correct answer: D - An oral antifungal course to reach infection within the affected hair follicles.
Five days after the second of two correctly applied permethrin 5% treatments given one week apart, an adult with scabies still itches, although less than before. Examination shows healing excoriations without new papules or burrows. Household contacts were treated simultaneously, and recently used bedding and clothing were decontaminated. Which follow-up plan fits these findings?
Correct answer: B - Use symptomatic itch care and monitor; improving itch alone does not establish treatment failure.
An 8-year-old with atopic dermatitis develops a rapidly worsening, painful eruption on the face and upper chest. The nurse sees clusters of similar-sized vesicles and punched-out erosions rather than the child's usual excoriated eczema. Temperature is 38.5°C. What treatment should be arranged before virologic test results are available?
Correct answer: A - Systemic acyclovir and same-day specialist assessment for suspected eczema herpeticum.
At a refill review, a 17-year-old with inflammatory acne reports using topical clindamycin as the only acne treatment. Which adjunct should the nurse discuss with the prescriber specifically to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance?
Correct answer: C - Topical benzoyl peroxide
A 74-year-old has months of bilateral ankle itching, scaling, brown discoloration, and edema that worsens through the day. Both legs are mildly warm but not tender; there is no fever or rapidly advancing redness. Ankle-brachial indices are 0.96 on the right and 1.02 on the left. Which care plan addresses the most likely underlying process?
Correct answer: C - Compression, leg elevation, and prescribed topical treatment for venous eczema.
During Mohs surgery for a recurrent basal cell carcinoma on the nasal ala, microscopy identifies residual tumor at one mapped peripheral margin; the other examined margins are clear. The patient asks why another stage is needed when no tumor is visible. How should the nurse explain the next step?
Correct answer: A - Additional tissue is removed from the mapped positive area and examined before the wound is closed.
An 8-mm asymmetric pigmented lesion on the upper back has enlarged and developed an irregular border. Melanoma is suspected, and the lesion can be removed completely without difficulty. The clinician needs a diagnostic specimen that permits assessment of tumor architecture and Breslow thickness if melanoma is confirmed. Which initial biopsy approach is most appropriate?
Correct answer: D - Complete full-thickness excision with a narrow diagnostic margin around the lesion.
For conventional local infiltration during a skin excision, a healthy 60-kg adult has already received 6 mL of plain lidocaine 2%. The proceduralist requests another 12 mL of plain lidocaine 1%. No other local anesthetic has been given. The applicable maximum is 4.5 mg/kg, not to exceed 300 mg. Which dose check correctly accounts for both preparations and the patient-specific limit?
Correct answer: D - The total would be 240 mg, below this patient's 270 mg limit.
A time-controlled narrowband UVB unit previously delivered an ordered dose of 600 mJ/cm² in 300 seconds at an irradiance of 2.0 mW/cm². After lamp replacement and completed safety checks, its validated irradiance at the treatment position is 3.0 mW/cm². The patient has had no erythema, and the prescriber orders the same 600 mJ/cm² dose. What timer setting preserves the ordered dose?
Correct answer: B - 200 seconds, using the current calibrated irradiance to deliver the unchanged dose.
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