Question 1

The client is receiving chemotherapy while remaining in the home setting. To ensure that caregivers properly dispose of body fluids while the client is receiving these drugs, what is the nurse's highest priority instruction to the client and caregiver?

Accepted Answer

While the client is in the home setting and is receiving chemotherapy, toilets should be flushed twice since chemotherapy remains in the body for 48 to 72 hours after administration.

Question 2

A client is discharged on anticancer medications. What is an advantage of home use of these medications?

Accepted Answer

Receiving chemotherapy at home is less expensive because of decreased hospital costs.

Question 3

The client will be undergoing anticancer therapy in the home setting. The nurse is preparing written educational materials for the client and family. In preparing the materials, the nurse's highest priority intervention is to:

Accepted Answer

Before actually preparing the materials, the nurse should assess the learning needs of the client and family members.

Question 4

Estrogen therapy is a treatment for progressive prostatic cancer and breast cancer (postmenopausal women). The nurse administers the estrogen with the awareness that what is the proposed action of estrogen?

Accepted Answer

Estrogen is given to suppress tumor growth.

Question 5

A client with cancer is being treated with medication via intravenous therapy. The client is noted to have swelling at the IV site, pain at the IV site, and cool and pale skin. What is the highest priority nursing intervention?

Accepted Answer

This is extravasation produced by a vesicant drug. The infusion should be stopped.

Question 6

A client is ordered to receive cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). The client is advised to drink increased water and fluids to:

Accepted Answer

Cytoxan can cause hemorrhagic cystitis and irritation of the bladder wall.

Question 7

A client with cancer is on chemotherapy and neutropenic precautions. This is a priority intervention because clients taking anticancer drugs are susceptible to infections resulting from a(n) _____ count.

Accepted Answer

The decrease in white blood cell count reduces the body's defenses to infection.

Question 8

A client with cancer is taking an antimetabolite. The client complains of nausea. The nurse may suggest taking the drug with:

Accepted Answer

Eating crackers is known to relieve nausea.

Question 9

To reduce a nurse's exposure to chemotherapy drugs during IV administration, what is the nurse's highest priority nursing intervention?

Accepted Answer

A face shield should always be worn if there is danger of splashing to prevent exposure to the nurse.

Question 10

A male client is receiving chemotherapy and is concerned about endangering his female sexual partner while he is receiving the drugs. The nurse's highest priority instruction to this client is to __________ receiving the drugs.

Accepted Answer

Condoms should be used for up to 7 days after receiving the drugs to prevent endangering the client's sexual partner.

Question 11

The nurse suspects that the client may be experiencing peripheral neuropathy as a result of receiving paclitaxel (Taxol). What is the highest priority nursing intervention to use in monitoring the client for this adverse reaction?

Accepted Answer

Symptoms of neuropathy include feelings of numbness and/or tingling in the fingers and toes.

Question 12

The client will be remaining in the home while receiving chemotherapy. Her caregiver is concerned about how her skin should be cleaned if she is incontinent while undergoing treatment. The nurse should instruct the caregiver to clean the skin with ________ after an incontinent episode.

Accepted Answer

Proper skin care for the client who is incontinent while receiving chemotherapy consists of cleaning the area with soap and water after an episode of incontinence.

Quiz 37: Anticancer Drugs