McCuistion: Pharmacology: A Patient-Centered Nursing Process Approach,
11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a patient who will begin receiving targeted therapy for cancer. The
patient asks how targeted therapy differs from other types of chemotherapies. The nurse
will explain that targeted therapy
a. damages cancer cell DNA to prevent cell replication.
b. directly kills or damages cancerous cells.
c. interferes with specific molecules in cancer cells.
d. prevents metastasis of cancer cells.
ANS: C
Targeted therapy differs from traditional cancer chemotherapy by taking advantage of
biologic features particular to cancer cells and targeting specific mechanisms. They
block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules within
the cancer cells. Traditional chemotherapeutic agents damage cell DNA of cancer
cells as well as normal cells. Targeted therapies do not directly kill or damage cancer
cells or prevent metastasis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) TOP: Nursing
Process: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2. A patient who has metastatic colorectal cancer tells the nurse that a cousin who had
colorectal cancer received bevacizumab and wonders how the drug works. the nurse will
explain that bevacizumab works by targeting which of the following?
a. HER2 receptors
b. Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase
c. The BRCA1 suppressor gene
d. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins
ANS: D
Bevacizumab acts by blocking VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor); blocking
VEGF may prevent the growth of new blood vessels, including those that may feed
the tumor.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) TOP: Nursing
Process: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: Pathophysiology
,3. The nurse is performing a history on a patient who will begin taking bevacizumab. Which
aspect of the patient’s history should be reported to the oncologist treating this patient?
a. History of hepatitis
b. Hypertension
c. Recent treatment for a GI obstruction
d. Weight loss
ANS: C
Bevacizumab carries a warning for gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4. The patient asks the nurse what apoptosis means. the nurse will explain that apoptosis
refers to
a. alteration of cellular functions.
b. inhibition of cell division.
c. prevention of cell phase progression.
d. slow, planned cellular death.
ANS: D
Apoptosis is programmed cell death, designed to ensure that tissues contain only
healthy and optimally functional cells.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge) TOP: Nursing
Process: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: Pathophysiology
5. Which of the following agents is NOT an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
inhibitor?
a. Alectinib
b. Erlotinib
c. Gefitinib
d. Osimertinib
ANS: A
Alectinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Erlotinib, gefitinib and osimertinib are all
EGFR inhibitors.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Nursing Intervention MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. The nurse performs a medication history on a patient who will begin targeted therapy for
cancer with gefitinib. the nurse learns that the patient is taking carbamazepine, a
, histamine2 blocker, and warfarin. the nurse will anticipate that the provider will make
which change to the medication regimen?
a. Decrease the gefitinib dose.
b. Decrease the warfarin dose.
c. Increase thehistamine2 blocker dose.
d. Increase the carbamazepine dose.
ANS: B
When patients taking warfarin take gefitinib, the effectiveness of the warfarin is
greatly increased, and bleeding risk increases. Carbamazepine and histamine2
blockers decrease the effectiveness of gefitinib, so decreasing the gefitinib dose or
decreasing the carbamazepine or histamine2 blocker is not recommended.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological
Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
7. The nurse is preparing to administer intravenous temsirolimus. To prevent a common
adverse drug effect, the nurse will expect to administer which type of drug?
a. An antibiotic
b. An anticoagulant
c. An antiemetic
d. An antihistamine
ANS: D
Hypersensitivity reactions to temsirolimus are common, and pre-treatment with
antihistamines is recommended. Other drugs are given as needed but not
prophylactically.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Nursing Intervention MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
8. A patient who is taking the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib calls to report red, painful,
and swollen palms and soles of feet. the nurse will perform which action?
a. Notify the patient’s provider of this adverse reaction.
b. Reassure the patient that these are common side effects.
c. Recommend taking acetaminophen for discomfort.
d. Suggest taking diphenhydramine to help with the swelling.
ANS: A
The nurse should notify the provider if the patient reports these symptoms, since they
may indicate erythrodysesthesia. Reassuring the patient or recommending over-the
counter treatments is not indicated.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a patient who will begin receiving targeted therapy for cancer. The
patient asks how targeted therapy differs from other types of chemotherapies. The nurse
will explain that targeted therapy
a. damages cancer cell DNA to prevent cell replication.
b. directly kills or damages cancerous cells.
c. interferes with specific molecules in cancer cells.
d. prevents metastasis of cancer cells.
ANS: C
Targeted therapy differs from traditional cancer chemotherapy by taking advantage of
biologic features particular to cancer cells and targeting specific mechanisms. They
block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules within
the cancer cells. Traditional chemotherapeutic agents damage cell DNA of cancer
cells as well as normal cells. Targeted therapies do not directly kill or damage cancer
cells or prevent metastasis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) TOP: Nursing
Process: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2. A patient who has metastatic colorectal cancer tells the nurse that a cousin who had
colorectal cancer received bevacizumab and wonders how the drug works. the nurse will
explain that bevacizumab works by targeting which of the following?
a. HER2 receptors
b. Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase
c. The BRCA1 suppressor gene
d. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins
ANS: D
Bevacizumab acts by blocking VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor); blocking
VEGF may prevent the growth of new blood vessels, including those that may feed
the tumor.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) TOP: Nursing
Process: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: Pathophysiology
,3. The nurse is performing a history on a patient who will begin taking bevacizumab. Which
aspect of the patient’s history should be reported to the oncologist treating this patient?
a. History of hepatitis
b. Hypertension
c. Recent treatment for a GI obstruction
d. Weight loss
ANS: C
Bevacizumab carries a warning for gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4. The patient asks the nurse what apoptosis means. the nurse will explain that apoptosis
refers to
a. alteration of cellular functions.
b. inhibition of cell division.
c. prevention of cell phase progression.
d. slow, planned cellular death.
ANS: D
Apoptosis is programmed cell death, designed to ensure that tissues contain only
healthy and optimally functional cells.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge) TOP: Nursing
Process: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: Pathophysiology
5. Which of the following agents is NOT an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
inhibitor?
a. Alectinib
b. Erlotinib
c. Gefitinib
d. Osimertinib
ANS: A
Alectinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Erlotinib, gefitinib and osimertinib are all
EGFR inhibitors.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Nursing Intervention MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. The nurse performs a medication history on a patient who will begin targeted therapy for
cancer with gefitinib. the nurse learns that the patient is taking carbamazepine, a
, histamine2 blocker, and warfarin. the nurse will anticipate that the provider will make
which change to the medication regimen?
a. Decrease the gefitinib dose.
b. Decrease the warfarin dose.
c. Increase thehistamine2 blocker dose.
d. Increase the carbamazepine dose.
ANS: B
When patients taking warfarin take gefitinib, the effectiveness of the warfarin is
greatly increased, and bleeding risk increases. Carbamazepine and histamine2
blockers decrease the effectiveness of gefitinib, so decreasing the gefitinib dose or
decreasing the carbamazepine or histamine2 blocker is not recommended.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological
Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
7. The nurse is preparing to administer intravenous temsirolimus. To prevent a common
adverse drug effect, the nurse will expect to administer which type of drug?
a. An antibiotic
b. An anticoagulant
c. An antiemetic
d. An antihistamine
ANS: D
Hypersensitivity reactions to temsirolimus are common, and pre-treatment with
antihistamines is recommended. Other drugs are given as needed but not
prophylactically.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Nursing Intervention MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
8. A patient who is taking the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib calls to report red, painful,
and swollen palms and soles of feet. the nurse will perform which action?
a. Notify the patient’s provider of this adverse reaction.
b. Reassure the patient that these are common side effects.
c. Recommend taking acetaminophen for discomfort.
d. Suggest taking diphenhydramine to help with the swelling.
ANS: A
The nurse should notify the provider if the patient reports these symptoms, since they
may indicate erythrodysesthesia. Reassuring the patient or recommending over-the
counter treatments is not indicated.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) TOP: Nursing Process:
Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
