ATI RN
Oncology Questions
1. A nurse works with clients who have alopecia from chemotherapy. What action by the nurse takes priority?
- A. Helping clients adjust to their appearance.
- B. Reassuring clients that this change is temporary.
- C. Referring clients to a reputable wig shop.
- D. Teaching measures to prevent scalp injury.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Teaching measures to prevent scalp injury. Alopecia makes the scalp more vulnerable to injury, so educating clients on protective measures is crucial. Choices A and B focus on emotional support and reassurance, which are important but secondary to physical safety. Referring clients to a wig shop (choice C) addresses appearance but does not directly address the physical risk associated with scalp vulnerability.
2. Which of the following descriptions of chemotherapy is correct?
- A. Chemotherapy is externally given through high energy waves
- B. Chemotherapy is known to have fatigue as a common side effect
- C. Chemotherapy spreads throughout the body
- D. Chemotherapy attacks cancer cells only
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Chemotherapy drugs are typically administered systemically, meaning they circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream. This allows them to target cancer cells that may have spread beyond the original tumor site, making chemotherapy an effective treatment for cancers that are metastatic (have spread to other parts of the body). However, because chemotherapy is not selective, it can also affect healthy cells that divide rapidly, leading to a range of side effects.
3. The nurse is caring for a client following radical neck dissection and creation of a tracheostomy. Which assessment finding would indicate an immediate need for intervention?
- A. Frequent swallowing
- B. Presence of mucous membranes
- C. Bubbling in the water-seal chamber
- D. Inspiratory stridor
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Inspiratory stridor is the correct answer as it suggests airway obstruction, a critical issue requiring immediate intervention. Frequent swallowing (choice A) is a common postoperative finding and does not indicate an immediate need for intervention. The presence of mucous membranes (choice B) is a normal finding and does not require immediate intervention. Bubbling in the water-seal chamber (choice C) of a chest tube drainage system is an expected finding and indicates proper functioning of the system, not an immediate need for intervention.
4. Nurse Farah is caring for a client following a mastectomy. Which assessment finding indicates that the client is experiencing a complication related to the surgery?
- A. Pain at the incision site
- B. Arm edema on the operative side
- C. Sanguineous drainage in the Jackson-Pratt drain
- D. Complaints of decreased sensation near the operative site
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Arm edema on the operative side (lymphedema) is a known complication after a mastectomy. This can indicate impaired lymphatic drainage, leading to fluid accumulation in the arm. Pain at the incision site is expected postoperatively and may not necessarily indicate a complication. Sanguineous drainage in the Jackson-Pratt drain is a common finding in the immediate postoperative period. Complaints of decreased sensation near the operative site could be related to nerve damage or surgical manipulation, but it is not a typical complication after a mastectomy.
5. A patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is undergoing chemotherapy and develops neutropenia. What is the most important nursing intervention for this patient?
- A. Administering antipyretics
- B. Restricting visitors
- C. Maintaining a sterile environment
- D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Maintaining a sterile environment is crucial to prevent infection in neutropenic patients.
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