Clinical Procedures & Patient Care Flashcards
7 cards from real CDT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Procedures & Patient Care flashcards as text
Which of the following is the correct method for disposing of a used scalpel blade in a dermatology procedure room?
Answer: Use a needle-nose forceps or blade remover to remove the blade, then discard in a sharps container
OSHA mandates that sharps never be recapped or handled by hand; a mechanical blade remover or forceps must be used to detach the blade, which is then deposited into a puncture-resistant sharps container.
During photodynamic therapy (PDT) with aminolevulinic acid (ALA), the incubation period before light activation typically lasts:
Answer: 1–3 hours
After ALA application, a 1–3 hour incubation period allows the photosensitizer to accumulate selectively in target cells before activation with the appropriate light source.
A patient scheduled for a full-face laser resurfacing asks if she needs antiviral prophylaxis. The CDT correctly explains that prophylaxis is indicated for patients with a history of:
Answer: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection
Antiviral prophylaxis is standard before laser resurfacing for patients with a history of HSV, as the procedure can trigger a widespread herpes outbreak across the treated area.
Which skin type on the Fitzpatrick scale carries the highest risk for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) after a procedure?
Answer: Type V–VI
Fitzpatrick Types V and VI have greater melanocyte activity and are at significantly higher risk for PIH following ablative or inflammatory procedures.
When obtaining informed consent for a dermatologic procedure, which element is legally required to be documented?
Answer: The patient's acknowledgment of risks, benefits, and alternatives
Valid informed consent requires that the patient acknowledges understanding of the procedure's risks, benefits, and alternatives; this documentation protects both the patient and provider.
A Wood's lamp examination causes a coral-pink fluorescence of the affected skin area. This finding is most consistent with:
Answer: Erythrasma
Erythrasma, caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum, produces a characteristic coral-pink fluorescence under Wood's lamp due to porphyrin production by the bacteria.
What is the primary purpose of the 'time-out' procedure performed immediately before a dermatologic surgical procedure?
Answer: To verify correct patient identity, procedure site, and planned intervention
The surgical time-out is a required safety pause to verify patient identity, the correct procedure, and the correct anatomical site, preventing wrong-site or wrong-patient errors.