Test Bank - Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (8th Edition by Karch)
1. The process of cancerous cells exhibiting a loss of cellular differentiation and
organization leading to a loss of their ability to function normally is called what?
a. Anaplasia
b. Angiogenesis
c. Autonomy
d. Metastasis
Ans: A
Feedback:
Cancerous cells exhibit anaplasia, which is a loss of cellular differentiation and
organization that leads to a loss of their ability to function normally. Angiogenesis
refers to the abnormal cells releasing enzymes that generate blood vessels in the area
to supply both oxygen and nutrients to the cells. Cancerous cells exhibit autonomy,
which is the ability to grow without the usual homeostatic restrictions that regulate
cell growth and control. Metastasis is the process of the cancerous cells traveling from
the place of origin to develop new tumors.
2. The mitotic inhibitors interfere with the ability of a cell to divide and they block or
alter deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, thus causing cell death. What is
important for the nurse to remember when administering these drugs?
a. The nurse should encourage the patient to eat six small meals a day.
b. The nurse should avoid any skin, eye, or mucous membrane contact with
the drug.
c. The nurse should avoid using a distal vein.
d. The nurse should check for extravasation when the infusion is over.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Special care needs to be taken when administering these drugs. The nurse should
avoid any skin, eye, or mucous membrane contact with the drug. This type of contact
can cause serious reactions and toxicity for the nurse. The nurse should check for
extravasation frequently during the infusion and not wait until the infusion is
completed, a distal vein should be used, nausea and vomiting are commonly
experienced adverse effects of these drugs, and small meals may help the patient to
maintain adequate nutrition but this is not the important concern when administering
the drug.
3. A nurse is preparing an antineoplastic agent for a 9-year-old cancer patient. Before
administering an antineoplastic agent, what is the nurse’s priority action?
, a. Wash his or her hands.
b. Identify the child by checking the arm band and asking him or her to state
his or her name.
c. Ensure a quiet environment so the patient can sleep during administration
of the drug.
d. Check laboratory studies to determine most recent measures of bone
marrow function.
Ans: D
Feedback:
The most important action of the nurse before administering the drug would be to
check indexes of bone marrow functioning because these results will help to
determine the proper dosage. Smaller dosages are administered if bone marrow
function declines, whereas larger dosages can be given if bone marrow function is
good. Only after this is checked will the nurse begin the process of actually
administering the medication by performing hand hygiene, identifying the patient, and
creating a quiet environment.
4. A patient with leukemia receives rasburicase (Elitek) before administering
chemotherapy. What is the nurse’s priority assessment after administration of this
medication?
a. Blood glucose levels
b. Serum potassium levels
c. Serum calcium levels
d. Uric acid levels
Ans: D
Feedback:
Rasburicase is approved for the management of plasma uric acid levels in patients
with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid malignancies who are receiving antineoplastic
therapy associated with tumor lysis and elevated serum uric acid levels. Uric acid
levels should be analyzed within 4 hours of each dose of rasburicase. Blood glucose,
potassium, and calcium levels should not be affected by administration of the drug.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient at risk of severe-to-fatal interstitial lung disease.
What antineoplastic agent is the nurse administering that carries this risk?
a. Valrubicin (Valstar)
b. Erlotinib (Tarceva)
c. Histrelin acetate (Vantas)
d. Triptorelin pamoate (Trelstar Depot)
Ans: B
Feedback:
Erlotinib inhibits tyrosine kinase associated with epidermal growth factor found on
1. The process of cancerous cells exhibiting a loss of cellular differentiation and
organization leading to a loss of their ability to function normally is called what?
a. Anaplasia
b. Angiogenesis
c. Autonomy
d. Metastasis
Ans: A
Feedback:
Cancerous cells exhibit anaplasia, which is a loss of cellular differentiation and
organization that leads to a loss of their ability to function normally. Angiogenesis
refers to the abnormal cells releasing enzymes that generate blood vessels in the area
to supply both oxygen and nutrients to the cells. Cancerous cells exhibit autonomy,
which is the ability to grow without the usual homeostatic restrictions that regulate
cell growth and control. Metastasis is the process of the cancerous cells traveling from
the place of origin to develop new tumors.
2. The mitotic inhibitors interfere with the ability of a cell to divide and they block or
alter deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, thus causing cell death. What is
important for the nurse to remember when administering these drugs?
a. The nurse should encourage the patient to eat six small meals a day.
b. The nurse should avoid any skin, eye, or mucous membrane contact with
the drug.
c. The nurse should avoid using a distal vein.
d. The nurse should check for extravasation when the infusion is over.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Special care needs to be taken when administering these drugs. The nurse should
avoid any skin, eye, or mucous membrane contact with the drug. This type of contact
can cause serious reactions and toxicity for the nurse. The nurse should check for
extravasation frequently during the infusion and not wait until the infusion is
completed, a distal vein should be used, nausea and vomiting are commonly
experienced adverse effects of these drugs, and small meals may help the patient to
maintain adequate nutrition but this is not the important concern when administering
the drug.
3. A nurse is preparing an antineoplastic agent for a 9-year-old cancer patient. Before
administering an antineoplastic agent, what is the nurse’s priority action?
, a. Wash his or her hands.
b. Identify the child by checking the arm band and asking him or her to state
his or her name.
c. Ensure a quiet environment so the patient can sleep during administration
of the drug.
d. Check laboratory studies to determine most recent measures of bone
marrow function.
Ans: D
Feedback:
The most important action of the nurse before administering the drug would be to
check indexes of bone marrow functioning because these results will help to
determine the proper dosage. Smaller dosages are administered if bone marrow
function declines, whereas larger dosages can be given if bone marrow function is
good. Only after this is checked will the nurse begin the process of actually
administering the medication by performing hand hygiene, identifying the patient, and
creating a quiet environment.
4. A patient with leukemia receives rasburicase (Elitek) before administering
chemotherapy. What is the nurse’s priority assessment after administration of this
medication?
a. Blood glucose levels
b. Serum potassium levels
c. Serum calcium levels
d. Uric acid levels
Ans: D
Feedback:
Rasburicase is approved for the management of plasma uric acid levels in patients
with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid malignancies who are receiving antineoplastic
therapy associated with tumor lysis and elevated serum uric acid levels. Uric acid
levels should be analyzed within 4 hours of each dose of rasburicase. Blood glucose,
potassium, and calcium levels should not be affected by administration of the drug.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient at risk of severe-to-fatal interstitial lung disease.
What antineoplastic agent is the nurse administering that carries this risk?
a. Valrubicin (Valstar)
b. Erlotinib (Tarceva)
c. Histrelin acetate (Vantas)
d. Triptorelin pamoate (Trelstar Depot)
Ans: B
Feedback:
Erlotinib inhibits tyrosine kinase associated with epidermal growth factor found on
