HESI Health Assessment Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

Question: 1 / 400

What nail finding should a nurse expect in a patient with severe psoriasis?

Splinter hemorrhages

Paronychia

Pitting

In patients with severe psoriasis, pitting of the nails is a common manifestation. This occurs due to the underlying pathophysiology of psoriasis, which involves abnormal keratinization of the nail matrix. The condition often leads to the formation of small depressions or pits on the surface of the nails, which can vary in size and depth.

Pitting is specific to psoriasis among nail disorders, distinguishing it from other nail changes. For example, splinter hemorrhages are typically associated with conditions such as trauma or vascular issues, paronychia involves inflammation and infection of the skin around the nails, and Beau lines represent temporary growth interruptions due to systemic conditions or trauma, but they are not specifically linked to psoriasis.

As a result, when assessing a patient with severe psoriasis, the presence of nail pitting would be a key finding, aligning with the characteristic changes seen in this skin condition.

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Beau lines

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