Question 1

A patient with prostate cancer asks the nurse the meaning of his high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Which response by the nurse is correct?

Accepted Answer

PSA is a tumor marker that is elevated in patients with prostate cancer. It can also be elevated in men with other prostate conditions, so additional testing is often needed for a definitive diagnosis.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving radiation therapy for a tumor in the salivary gland. The patient complains of a very dry mouth. Which of the following would best document this finding?

Accepted Answer

Option A ("Halitosis noted") documents bad breath, which may or may not be related to dry mouth. Option C ("Patient experiencing dysphagia with liquids") documents difficulty swallowing liquids, which is not necessarily specific to dry mouth. Option D ("Grade II stomatitis present") documents inflammation of the mouth and could be related to radiation therapy but does not specifically indicate dry mouth. Option B ("Patient reports xerostomia") is the best choice as it directly documents the patient's complaint of dry mouth with the medical term "xerostomia."

Question 3

Which intervention should the nurse provide to help prevent social isolation in a patient who has a radioactive implant?

Accepted Answer

Social isolation can be a significant issue for patients with radioactive implants due to concerns about potential exposure to others. Providing diversional activities that the patient enjoys can help distract them from feelings of loneliness and decrease the likelihood of social isolation. Visiting frequently and having only one nurse provide care may not be feasible or practical. Encouraging family to stay with the patient while wearing masks and gloves may provide some social interaction, but it may also be difficult for the patient and family to maintain for extended periods of time.

Question 4

A client asks the nurse what dietary changes can be made to help protect against cancer. The nurse would base a response on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Evidence suggests that reducing dietary fat intake can lower the risk of certain types of cancer, such as breast and colon cancer. Reduced dietary salt intake may lower the risk of stomach cancer, but it is not a general protection against all types of cancer. Increased intake of milk products has not been shown to consistently lower cancer risk, and there is no evidence that increased intake of beef and poultry has a protective effect against cancer.

Question 5

When inspecting the intravenous site of a patient receiving a vesicant chemotherapy agent, the LPN notes a small area of swelling. What should the LPN do first?

Accepted Answer

Swelling at the intravenous site of a patient receiving a vesicant chemotherapy agent could indicate extravasation, which is the leakage of the chemotherapy agent into the surrounding tissues. This can cause tissue damage and necrosis. Therefore, the LPN should discontinue the infusion and notify the RN to assess the site and determine appropriate interventions. Documenting the finding in the chart and checking the site every hour may also be necessary, but these actions should not delay discontinuing the infusion and notifying the RN. No action is needed is not the correct answer as extravasation is a serious situation that requires action.

Question 6

A patient on chemotherapy after surgery develops thrombocytopenia. Which of the following symptoms should be reported immediately to the physician?

Accepted Answer

Thrombocytopenia is a decrease in the number of platelets, which can lead to bleeding. Tarry stools indicate gastrointestinal bleeding and should be reported immediately to the physician. Pain at the surgical site, slightly elevated blood pressure, and headache are not directly related to thrombocytopenia and can be monitored but not necessarily require immediate reporting.

Question 7

A gene is the genetic code for which of the following structures?

Accepted Answer

A gene is the genetic code for a protein. The sequence of nucleotides in a gene determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein, which in turn determines the protein's structure and function. Genes are segments of DNA that serve as the instructions for building proteins.

Question 8

A patient with lung cancer is receiving chemotherapy. Why is it important for the nurse to closely monitor the patient's white blood cell (WBC) count?

Accepted Answer

Chemotherapy drugs can depress the bone marrow, which can lead to a decrease in all blood cells, including white blood cells. This can increase the risk for infection, so it is important for the nurse to closely monitor the patient's WBC count and take appropriate precautions if the count drops too low. Choices A and B are not accurate statements about the effects of chemotherapy on blood cells, and choice D is partially true but does not fully address the importance of monitoring the WBC count.

Question 9

The nurse is assessing a patient and notes drainage on the sheets from the site of a radioactive colloid injection. What should the nurse do first?

Accepted Answer

The first action should be to follow hospital policy for radioactive waste cleanup to ensure safety and proper handling of the contaminated material, as radioactive substances require specific protocols for cleanup to prevent exposure and contamination.

Question 10

A patient is receiving a vesicant chemotherapy agent. The nurse notes that the patient's IV line has disconnected and is lying on the floor; the medication is dripping all over the floor. Which of the following actions is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Vesicant chemotherapy agents are irritating and can cause tissue damage if they leak out of the IV line. Therefore, the nurse should use gloves and a protective gown to clean up the spill according to agency policy to protect themselves and others from exposure to the medication. Reconnecting the IV tubing or wiping up the spill with disposable cloths can increase the risk of exposure to the vesicant agent.

Question 11

A patient receiving doxorubicin (Adriamycin) voids urine that is bright red. Which of the following actions by the nurse is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Bright red urine is a known side effect of doxorubicin, and it does not necessarily indicate significant bleeding. The nurse should check the patient's urine for any signs of actual blood (such as clots), and reassure the patient that this is a common side effect of the medication. Option A, drawing a hemoglobin sample and preparing for possible blood transfusion, is not necessary unless there are other indications of bleeding. Option B, notifying the physician STAT, is also not necessary unless there are other concerning symptoms or indications of bleeding. Option D, withholding all red dye from the patient's diet, is not necessary or indicated.

Question 12

A patient has stage I tumor in situ (TIS). Which of the following explanations of TIS by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

TIS means that the tumor is still in its site of origin and has not invaded any surrounding tissues or organs. It has not spread to the lymph nodes or any other parts of the body.

Question 13

Which of the following explanations best describes the purpose of palliative surgery for cancer?

Accepted Answer

Palliative surgery is aimed at providing relief from symptoms and enhancing the quality of life of terminally ill cancer patients. It is not intended to be curative in nature.

Question 14

A patient is scheduled for a needle biopsy of the breast. Which statement by the patient tells the nurse that teaching has been effective?

Accepted Answer

The statement "The doctor will use a needle to go into the tumor for a sample of cells" accurately describes the procedure for a needle biopsy of the breast. The other statements are not related to this procedure or contain inaccuracies.

Question 15

A patient is scheduled for a frozen section biopsy of the breast. Which statement by the patient indicates that she understands the purpose of this type of biopsy?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a frozen section biopsy is for quick analysis of the tumor during the surgery. The surgeon takes a sample of the tumor and sends it to the lab for quick analysis. Based on the results, the surgeon can then decide whether to complete the surgery or not. Option A is incorrect because the surgeon uses a needle to take a biopsy, not a syringe. Option C is incorrect because while a numbing agent may be used, the purpose of the biopsy is not simply to numb the area. Option D is incorrect because the entire lump is not necessarily removed, only a small sample is taken for analysis.

Question 16

Which of the following items creates the greatest risk for a patient with leukopenia?

Accepted Answer

Fresh fruits and vegetables carry a risk of infection that could be dangerous for a patient with leukopenia, as they have a weakened immune system. The other options pose a lesser risk of infection.

Question 17

A patient who has been treated for breast cancer is undergoing routine laboratory work. Which laboratory finding would cause the nurse to be most concerned about metastasis?

Accepted Answer

Elevated serum calcium can be indicative of metastasis in patients who have been treated for breast cancer, as bone metastases are a common occurrence. Elevated serum potassium or decreased serum calcium and potassium are not typically associated with metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Question 18

What term is used to describe a malignant tumor of the bone?

Accepted Answer

Sarcoma is a general term used to describe a malignant tumor that arises from connective tissues, including bone tissue.

Question 19

A patient develops alopecia related to doxorubicin (Adriamycin) therapy. Which statement explains this side effect?

Accepted Answer

Antineoplastics such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin) attack all rapidly dividing cells, including hair follicle cells, leading to alopecia. Antibiotics do not stop all hair growth, bone marrow suppression can lead to decreased hair growth but not necessarily alopecia, and uric acid collection in hair cells is not a known mechanism for alopecia.

Question 20

Why are hair, blood, skin, and gastrointestinal tract cells more likely to be adversely affected by chemotherapy than other cells?

Accepted Answer

Hair, blood, skin, and gastrointestinal cells are all fast-growing cells, which makes them more susceptible to chemotherapy drugs that target rapidly dividing cells. Other cells in the body, such as muscle or nerve cells, are slower dividing and therefore less affected by chemotherapy.

Quiz 11: Nursing Care of Patients With Cancer