Question

A patient has a suspicious lesion on their right shoulder. The nurse practitioner is concerned that it may be a cancerous lesion and would like to perform a biopsy for evaluation. PMH includes, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, diabetes, and BPH. What does the NP need to assess for before obtaining the biopsy?

a. What medications the patient is taking
b. Any known allergies
c. Previous skin lesions
d. Family history of skin cancer

Answer 1

Before obtaining the biopsy, the nurse practitioner needs to assess the patient's medications, allergies, previous skin lesions, and family history of skin cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Before obtaining the biopsy, the nurse practitioner needs to assess several factors:

Medications: The nurse practitioner should inquire about the medications the patient is currently taking, as some medications can affect the healing process or interact with anesthesia or other drugs used during the biopsy.

Allergies: It is important to determine if the patient has any known allergies, especially to medications or materials that may be used during the biopsy procedure.

Previous skin lesions: Assessing the patient's history of previous skin lesions can provide insight into their risk for developing skin cancer or other skin conditions.

Family history of skin cancer: Inquiring about a family history of skin cancer is important, as it can indicate a higher genetic predisposition to the disease.