These NCLEX Oncology Practice Questions can help you review for your nursing boards. Good luck!
1. The nurse is monitoring a client for signs and symptoms related to superior vena cava syndrome. Which is an early sign of this oncological emergency?
a) Cyanosis
b) Arm edema
c) Periorbital edema
d) Mental status changes
2. Oncology Practice Questions about the nurse manager who is teaching the nursing staff about signs and symptoms related to hypercalcemia in a client with metastatic prostate cancer and tells the staff that which is a late sign of this oncological emergency?
a) Headache
b) Dysphagia
c) Constipation
d) Electrocardiographic changes
3. As part of chemotherapy education, the nurse teaches a female client about the risk for bleeding and self-care during the period of greatest bone marrow suppression (the nadir). The nurse understands that further teaching is needed if the client makes which statement?
a) “I should avoid blowing my nose.”
b) “I may need a platelet transfusion if my platelet count is too low.”
c) “I’m going to take aspirin for my headache as soon as I get home.”
d) “I will count the number of pads and tampons I use when menstruating.”
4. The community health nurse is instructing a group of young female clients about breast self-examination. The nurse should instruct the clients to perform the examination at which time?
a) At the onset of menstruation
b) Every month during ovulation
c) Weekly at the same time of day
d) 1 week after menstruation begins
5. A client is diagnosed as having a bowel tumor. The nurse should monitor the client for which complications of this type of tumor? Select all that apply.
a) Flatulence
b) Peritonitis
c) Hemorrhage
d) Fistula formation
e) Bowel perforation 6. Lactose intolerance
6. The nurse is caring for a client following a mastectomy. Which nursing intervention would assist in preventing lymphedema of the affected arm?
a) Placing cool compresses on the affected arm
b) Elevating the affected arm on a pillow above heart level
c) Avoiding arm exercises in the immediate postoperative period
d) Maintaining an intravenous site below the antecubital area on the affected side
Oncology Practice Questions
Answers and Rationale
1) C
- Rationale: Superior vena cava syndrome occurs when the superior vena cava is compressed or obstructed by tumor growth. Early signs and symptoms generally occur in the morning and include edema of the face, especially around the eyes, and client complaints of tightness of a shirt or blouse collar. As the compression worsens, the client experiences edema of the hands and arms. Cyanosis and mental status changes are late signs.
Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic word early. Think about the pathophysiology associated with this disorder and focus on the strategic word to assist in eliminating options A, B, and D.
2) D
- Rationale: Hypercalcemia is a manifestation of bone metastasis in late-stage cancer. Headache and dysphagia are not associated with hypercalcemia. Constipation may occur early in the process. Electrocardiogram changes include shortened ST segment and a widened T wave.
- Oncology Practice Questions Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic word late. Focus on the name of the oncological emergency, hypercalcemia, to direct you to the correct option. Eliminate options A and B because they are not signs of hypercalcemia. Eliminate option C because it is an early sign of hypercalcemia.
3) C
- Rationale: During the period of greatest bone marrow suppression (the nadir), the platelet count may be low, less than 20,000 cells/ mm3. The correct option describes an incorrect statement by the client. Aspirin and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and products that contain aspirin should be avoided because of their antiplatelet activity. Options A, B and D are correct statements by the client to prevent and monitor bleeding.
Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic words further teaching is needed. Recalling the effects of bone marrow suppression will direct you to the correct option.
4) D
- Rationale: The breast self-examination should be performed monthly, 7 days after the onset of the menstrual period. Performing the examination weekly is not recommended. At the onset of menstruation and during ovulation, hormonal changes occur that may alter breast tissue.
- Oncology Practice Questions Test-Taking Strategy: Option C can be eliminated easily because of the word weekly. Eliminate options A and B next because they are comparable or alike in the similarity that exists regarding the hormonal changes that occur during these times.
5) B, C, D, E
- Rationale: Complications of bowel tumors include bowel perforation, which can result in hemorrhage and peritonitis. Other complications include bowel obstruction, and fistula formation. Flatulence can occur but is not a complication; lactose intolerance also is not a complication of intestinal tumor.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject, complications of a bowel tumor. Think about the location and pathophysiology associated with this type of tumor to answer correctly.
6) B
- Rationale: Following mastectomy, the arm should be elevated above the level of the heart. Simple arm exercises should be encouraged. No blood pressure readings, injections, intravenous lines, or blood draws should be performed on the affected arm. Cool compresses are not a suggested measure to prevent lymphedema from occurring.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject, preventing lymphedema. Note the relationship between lymphedema in the question and elevating in the correct option. Also, using general principles related to gravity will direct you to the correct option.
Proceed to the next set of questions...
Oncology Practice Questions NCLEX 7-10
1. The nurse is monitoring a client for signs and symptoms related to superior vena cava syndrome. Which is an early sign of this oncological emergency?
a) Cyanosis
b) Arm edema
c) Periorbital edema
d) Mental status changes
2. Oncology Practice Questions about the nurse manager who is teaching the nursing staff about signs and symptoms related to hypercalcemia in a client with metastatic prostate cancer and tells the staff that which is a late sign of this oncological emergency?
a) Headache
b) Dysphagia
c) Constipation
d) Electrocardiographic changes
3. As part of chemotherapy education, the nurse teaches a female client about the risk for bleeding and self-care during the period of greatest bone marrow suppression (the nadir). The nurse understands that further teaching is needed if the client makes which statement?
a) “I should avoid blowing my nose.”
b) “I may need a platelet transfusion if my platelet count is too low.”
c) “I’m going to take aspirin for my headache as soon as I get home.”
d) “I will count the number of pads and tampons I use when menstruating.”
4. The community health nurse is instructing a group of young female clients about breast self-examination. The nurse should instruct the clients to perform the examination at which time?
a) At the onset of menstruation
b) Every month during ovulation
c) Weekly at the same time of day
d) 1 week after menstruation begins
5. A client is diagnosed as having a bowel tumor. The nurse should monitor the client for which complications of this type of tumor? Select all that apply.
a) Flatulence
b) Peritonitis
c) Hemorrhage
d) Fistula formation
e) Bowel perforation 6. Lactose intolerance
6. The nurse is caring for a client following a mastectomy. Which nursing intervention would assist in preventing lymphedema of the affected arm?
a) Placing cool compresses on the affected arm
b) Elevating the affected arm on a pillow above heart level
c) Avoiding arm exercises in the immediate postoperative period
d) Maintaining an intravenous site below the antecubital area on the affected side
Oncology Practice Questions
Answers and Rationale
1) C
- Rationale: Superior vena cava syndrome occurs when the superior vena cava is compressed or obstructed by tumor growth. Early signs and symptoms generally occur in the morning and include edema of the face, especially around the eyes, and client complaints of tightness of a shirt or blouse collar. As the compression worsens, the client experiences edema of the hands and arms. Cyanosis and mental status changes are late signs.
Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic word early. Think about the pathophysiology associated with this disorder and focus on the strategic word to assist in eliminating options A, B, and D.
2) D
- Rationale: Hypercalcemia is a manifestation of bone metastasis in late-stage cancer. Headache and dysphagia are not associated with hypercalcemia. Constipation may occur early in the process. Electrocardiogram changes include shortened ST segment and a widened T wave.
- Oncology Practice Questions Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic word late. Focus on the name of the oncological emergency, hypercalcemia, to direct you to the correct option. Eliminate options A and B because they are not signs of hypercalcemia. Eliminate option C because it is an early sign of hypercalcemia.
3) C
- Rationale: During the period of greatest bone marrow suppression (the nadir), the platelet count may be low, less than 20,000 cells/ mm3. The correct option describes an incorrect statement by the client. Aspirin and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and products that contain aspirin should be avoided because of their antiplatelet activity. Options A, B and D are correct statements by the client to prevent and monitor bleeding.
Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic words further teaching is needed. Recalling the effects of bone marrow suppression will direct you to the correct option.
4) D
- Rationale: The breast self-examination should be performed monthly, 7 days after the onset of the menstrual period. Performing the examination weekly is not recommended. At the onset of menstruation and during ovulation, hormonal changes occur that may alter breast tissue.
- Oncology Practice Questions Test-Taking Strategy: Option C can be eliminated easily because of the word weekly. Eliminate options A and B next because they are comparable or alike in the similarity that exists regarding the hormonal changes that occur during these times.
5) B, C, D, E
- Rationale: Complications of bowel tumors include bowel perforation, which can result in hemorrhage and peritonitis. Other complications include bowel obstruction, and fistula formation. Flatulence can occur but is not a complication; lactose intolerance also is not a complication of intestinal tumor.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject, complications of a bowel tumor. Think about the location and pathophysiology associated with this type of tumor to answer correctly.
6) B
- Rationale: Following mastectomy, the arm should be elevated above the level of the heart. Simple arm exercises should be encouraged. No blood pressure readings, injections, intravenous lines, or blood draws should be performed on the affected arm. Cool compresses are not a suggested measure to prevent lymphedema from occurring.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject, preventing lymphedema. Note the relationship between lymphedema in the question and elevating in the correct option. Also, using general principles related to gravity will direct you to the correct option.
Proceed to the next set of questions...
Oncology Practice Questions NCLEX 7-10
Posts
