15. The nurse administers an IV vesicant chemotherapeutic agent to a patient. Which
action is most important for the nurse to take?
a. Infuse the medication over a short period of time.
b. Stop the infusion if swelling is observed at the site.
c. Administer the chemotherapy through a small-bore catheter.
d. Hold the medication unless a central venous line is available.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: B
Swelling at the site may indicate extravasation, and the IV should be
stopped immediately. The medication generally should be given slowly to
avoid irritation of the vein. The size of the catheter is not as important as
administration of vesicants into a running IV line to allow dilution of the
chemotherapeutic drug. These medications can be given through
peripheral lines, although central vascular access devices (CVADs) are
preferred.
,5. A patient who has been on methotrexate therapy is experiencing mild pain. The
patient is asking for aspirin for the pain. The nurse recognizes that which of these is
true in this situation?
a. The aspirin will aggravate diarrhea.
b. The aspirin will masks signs of infection.
c. Aspirin can lead to methotrexate toxicity.
d. The aspirin will cause no problems for the patient on methotrexate.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: C
Methotrexate interacts with weak organic acids, such as aspirin, and can
lead to toxicity by displacing the methotrexate from protein-binding sites.
10. A patient, diagnosed with lymphoma, has an allergy to one of the proposed
chemotherapy drugs. The tumor has not responded to other types of treatment. The
nurse expects the oncologist to follow which course of treatment?
a. The physician will choose another drug to use.
b. The chemotherapy will be given along with supportive measures to treat a possible
allergic reaction.
c. The patient will receive reduced doses of chemotherapy for a longer period of
time.
d. The chemotherapy cannot be given because of the patient's allergy.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: B
Even if a patient has a known allergic reaction to a given antineoplastic
medication, the urgency of treating the patient's cancer may still
necessitate administering the medication and then treating any allergic
symptoms with supportive medications, such as antihistamines,
corticosteroids, and acetaminophen.
,7. A female patient complains of a scab that just wont heal under her left breast.
During your conversation, she also mentions chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, and
slight cough, attributed to allergies. What are the nurses next steps?
a. Continue to conduct a symptom analysis to better understand the patients
symptoms and concerns.
b. End the appointment and tell the patient to use skin protection during sun
exposure.
c. Suggest further testing with a cancer specialist and provide the appropriate
literature.
d. Tell her to put a bandage on the scab and set a follow-up appointment in one
week.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: A
A comprehensive health history is vital to treating and caring for the
patient. Often times, symptoms are vague. The nurse should conduct a
symptom analysis to gather as much information as possible. Questions
should address the duration of the symptoms and include the location,
characteristics, aggravating and relief factors, and any treatments taken
thus far.
1. A patient who is scheduled for a right breast biopsy asks the nurse the difference
between a benign tumor and a malignant tumor. Which answer by the nurse is
correct?
a. "Benign tumors do not cause damage to other tissues."
b. "Benign tumors are likely to recur in the same location."
c. "Malignant tumors may spread to other tissues or organs."
d. "Malignant cells reproduce more rapidly than normal cells."
Give this one a try later!
, ANS: C
The major difference between benign and malignant tumors is that
malignant tumors invade adjacent tissues and spread to distant tissues and
benign tumors never metastasize. The other statements are inaccurate. Both
types of tumors may cause damage to adjacent tissues. Malignant cells do
not reproduce more rapidly than normal cells. Benign tumors do not
usually recur.
19. A patient has been assigned the nursing diagnosis of imbalanced nutrition: less
than body requirements related to painful oral ulcers. Which nursing action will be
most effective in improving oral intake?
a. Offer the patient frequent small snacks between meals.
b. Assist the patient to choose favorite foods from the menu.
c. Provide teaching about the importance of nutritional intake.
d. Apply the ordered anesthetic gel to oral lesions before meals.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: D
Because the etiology of the patient's poor nutrition is the painful oral
ulcers, the best intervention is to apply anesthetic gel to the lesions before
the patient eats. The other actions might be helpful for other patients with
impaired nutrition, but would not be as helpful for this patient.
22. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is used as adjuvant therapy for a patient with metastatic renal
cell carcinoma. Which information should the nurse include when explaining the
purpose of this therapy to the patient?
a. IL-2 enhances the immunologic response to tumor cells.
b. IL-2 stimulates malignant cells in the resting phase to enter mitosis.
c. IL-2 prevents the bone marrow depression caused by chemotherapy.
d. IL-2 protects normal cells from the harmful effects of chemotherapy.
Give this one a try later!
action is most important for the nurse to take?
a. Infuse the medication over a short period of time.
b. Stop the infusion if swelling is observed at the site.
c. Administer the chemotherapy through a small-bore catheter.
d. Hold the medication unless a central venous line is available.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: B
Swelling at the site may indicate extravasation, and the IV should be
stopped immediately. The medication generally should be given slowly to
avoid irritation of the vein. The size of the catheter is not as important as
administration of vesicants into a running IV line to allow dilution of the
chemotherapeutic drug. These medications can be given through
peripheral lines, although central vascular access devices (CVADs) are
preferred.
,5. A patient who has been on methotrexate therapy is experiencing mild pain. The
patient is asking for aspirin for the pain. The nurse recognizes that which of these is
true in this situation?
a. The aspirin will aggravate diarrhea.
b. The aspirin will masks signs of infection.
c. Aspirin can lead to methotrexate toxicity.
d. The aspirin will cause no problems for the patient on methotrexate.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: C
Methotrexate interacts with weak organic acids, such as aspirin, and can
lead to toxicity by displacing the methotrexate from protein-binding sites.
10. A patient, diagnosed with lymphoma, has an allergy to one of the proposed
chemotherapy drugs. The tumor has not responded to other types of treatment. The
nurse expects the oncologist to follow which course of treatment?
a. The physician will choose another drug to use.
b. The chemotherapy will be given along with supportive measures to treat a possible
allergic reaction.
c. The patient will receive reduced doses of chemotherapy for a longer period of
time.
d. The chemotherapy cannot be given because of the patient's allergy.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: B
Even if a patient has a known allergic reaction to a given antineoplastic
medication, the urgency of treating the patient's cancer may still
necessitate administering the medication and then treating any allergic
symptoms with supportive medications, such as antihistamines,
corticosteroids, and acetaminophen.
,7. A female patient complains of a scab that just wont heal under her left breast.
During your conversation, she also mentions chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, and
slight cough, attributed to allergies. What are the nurses next steps?
a. Continue to conduct a symptom analysis to better understand the patients
symptoms and concerns.
b. End the appointment and tell the patient to use skin protection during sun
exposure.
c. Suggest further testing with a cancer specialist and provide the appropriate
literature.
d. Tell her to put a bandage on the scab and set a follow-up appointment in one
week.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: A
A comprehensive health history is vital to treating and caring for the
patient. Often times, symptoms are vague. The nurse should conduct a
symptom analysis to gather as much information as possible. Questions
should address the duration of the symptoms and include the location,
characteristics, aggravating and relief factors, and any treatments taken
thus far.
1. A patient who is scheduled for a right breast biopsy asks the nurse the difference
between a benign tumor and a malignant tumor. Which answer by the nurse is
correct?
a. "Benign tumors do not cause damage to other tissues."
b. "Benign tumors are likely to recur in the same location."
c. "Malignant tumors may spread to other tissues or organs."
d. "Malignant cells reproduce more rapidly than normal cells."
Give this one a try later!
, ANS: C
The major difference between benign and malignant tumors is that
malignant tumors invade adjacent tissues and spread to distant tissues and
benign tumors never metastasize. The other statements are inaccurate. Both
types of tumors may cause damage to adjacent tissues. Malignant cells do
not reproduce more rapidly than normal cells. Benign tumors do not
usually recur.
19. A patient has been assigned the nursing diagnosis of imbalanced nutrition: less
than body requirements related to painful oral ulcers. Which nursing action will be
most effective in improving oral intake?
a. Offer the patient frequent small snacks between meals.
b. Assist the patient to choose favorite foods from the menu.
c. Provide teaching about the importance of nutritional intake.
d. Apply the ordered anesthetic gel to oral lesions before meals.
Give this one a try later!
ANS: D
Because the etiology of the patient's poor nutrition is the painful oral
ulcers, the best intervention is to apply anesthetic gel to the lesions before
the patient eats. The other actions might be helpful for other patients with
impaired nutrition, but would not be as helpful for this patient.
22. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is used as adjuvant therapy for a patient with metastatic renal
cell carcinoma. Which information should the nurse include when explaining the
purpose of this therapy to the patient?
a. IL-2 enhances the immunologic response to tumor cells.
b. IL-2 stimulates malignant cells in the resting phase to enter mitosis.
c. IL-2 prevents the bone marrow depression caused by chemotherapy.
d. IL-2 protects normal cells from the harmful effects of chemotherapy.
Give this one a try later!
