Question 1

While the nurse is obtaining the health history of a 75-year-old female patient, which of the following has the greatest implication for the development of cancer?

Accepted Answer

A)   Being a woman
B)   Family history of hypertension
C)   Cigarette smoking as a teenager
D)   Advancing age D

Question 2

The nurse would incorporate which of the following into the plan of care as a primary prevention strategy for reduction of the risk for cancer?

Accepted Answer

A)   Yearly mammography for women aged 40 years and older
B)   Using skin protection during sun exposure while at the beach
C)   Colonoscopy at age 50 and every 10 years as follow-up
D)   Yearly prostate specific antigen (PS
A)   and digital rectal exam for men aged 50 and over B

Question 3

A cancer patient's susceptibility to the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) can be suspected with which of the following laboratory results?

Accepted Answer

A)   Serum potassium of 5.2 mmol/L
B)   Serum sodium of 120 mmol/L
C)   Hematocrit of 40%
D)   Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)  of 10 mg/dL B

Question 4

While planning care for a patient experiencing fatigue due to chemotherapy, which of the following is the most appropriate nursing intervention?

Accepted Answer

A)   Prioritization and administration of nursing care throughout the day
B)   Completing all nursing care in the morning so the patient can rest the remainder of the day
C)   Completing all nursing care in the evening when the patient is more rested
D)   Limiting visitors, thus promoting the maximal amount of hours for sleep

Question 5

A patient with prostate cancer is taking estrogen daily to control tumor growth. He reports that his left calf is swollen and painful. Which of the following would be the nurse's best action?

Accepted Answer

A)   Instruct the client to keep the leg elevated.
B)   Measure the calf circumference and compare the measurement with the right calf circumference measurement.
C)   Apply ice to the calf after a 10-minute massage of the area.
D)   Document assessment findings as an expected response with estrogen therapy.

Question 6

A patient is not certain whether she and her family should participate in a genetic screening plan. She asks the nurse why the X-linked recessive disorder that has been noted in some of her family members is expressed in males more frequently than in females. What is the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

A)   "The disease tends to show up in males because they do not have a second X chromosome to balance the expression of the gene."
B)   "One X chromosome of a pair is always inactive in females. This inactivity effectively negates the effects of the gene."
C)   "Females are known to have more effective DNA repair mechanisms than males, thus negating the damage caused by the recessive gene."
D)   "Expression of genes from the male's Y chromosome does not occur in females, so they are essentially immune to the effects of the gene."

Question 7

While collecting a health history on a patient admitted for colon cancer, which of the following questions would be a priority to ask this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Have you noticed any blood in your stool?"
B)   "Have you been experiencing nausea?"
C)   "Do you have back pain?"
D)   "Have you noticed any swelling in your abdomen?"

Question 8

In caring for a patient following lobectomy for lung cancer, which of the following should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Accepted Answer

A)   Position the patient on the operative side only.
B)   Avoid administering narcotic pain medications.
C)   Keep the patient on strict bed rest.
D)   Instruct the patient to cough and deep breathe.

Question 9

A female patient complains of a "scab that just won't heal" under her left breast. During your conversation, she also mentions chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, and slight cough, attributed to allergies. What is the nurse's best action?

Accepted Answer

A)   Continue to conduct a symptom analysis to better understand the patient's 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.

Question 10

The nurse is caring for a patient who received a bone marrow transplant 10 days ago. The nurse would monitor for which of the following clinical manifestations that could indicate a potentially life-threatening situation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Mucositis
B)   Confusion
C)   Depression
D)   Mild temperature elevation

Question 11

What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient experiencing chemotherapy-induced anemia?

Accepted Answer

A)   Risk for injury related to poor blood clotting
B)   Fatigue related to decreased cellular oxygenation
C)   Disturbed body image related to skin color changes
D)   Imbalanced nutrition, less than body requirements related to anorexia

Exam 12: Cellular Regulation