Question 1

The nurse is caring for a young woman with breast cancer.The stress between the woman and her husband is obvious,as is anxiety among the children.What is the nurse's best action in this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Help find or develop an educational program for the patient and her husband.
B)   Encourage the patient to agree with her husband even if she disagrees.
C)   Support the husband, and explain that the husband knows what's best.
D)   Take the children away and recommend foster care. A

Question 2

The Institute of Medicine (IOM)has made recommendations for four essential components of survivorship care.Which of the following are actual recommendations?

Accepted Answer

A)   Prevention and detection of new and recurrent cancers
B)   Surveillance for cancer spread, recurrence, or second cancers
C)   Cessation of noncancer follow-up and care
D)   Intervention for consequences of cancer and its treatment
E)   Coordination between specialists and primary care providers A,B,D,E

Question 3

As nurses caring for cancer survivors,it is important to understand that

Accepted Answer

A)   Caucasians have more post-treatment symptoms than minority patients.
B)   Treatment outcomes are the same regardless of ethnic background.
C)   Cancer treatment is lifelong, and follow-up ensures that needs are met.
D)   Many long-term cancer survivors suffer needlessly and die. D

Question 4

When working with cancer survivors,the nurse must understand that cancer survivors

Accepted Answer

A)   Face depression that is devastating and destroys one's sense of life.
B)   Seek a balance between independence and interdependence.
C)   Experience similar long-term impact regardless of cultural beliefs.
D)   Are at much lower risk for developing a new cancer.

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient with known coronary artery disease who has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer.What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

A)   Focus her assessment on the cancer diagnosis because it is the newer diagnosis.
B)   Ask questions about cardiac symptoms and their relationship to the cancer.
C)   Ignore symptom management and focus on palliative care.
D)   Say nothing because cancer survivors dislike prying.

Question 6

Ongoing concerns and problems facing cancer survivors and their families are important determinants of adjustment and quality of life.Families generally find themselves ill prepared to deal with cancer because

Accepted Answer

A)   Educational programs are of no help in dealing with cancer issues.
B)   Hiding cancer-related thoughts and concerns helps maintain relationships.
C)   Holding back emotions is an effort to shield others from true feelings.
D)   Caregiving is predetermined and does not require family decision-making skills.

Question 7

The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship has defined a cancer survivor as a person who has

Accepted Answer

A)   Been cancer free for 5 years after diagnosis.
B)   Been cancer free for 3 years after diagnosis.
C)   Had cancer until he or she dies.
D)   Had cancer but is declared cancer free.

Question 8

The patient has lung cancer and voices concerns about his cancer treatment.He wants to know how chemotherapy will affect his sexuality.What is the nurse's best reply?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Chemotherapy will work in the lungs and should have no effect on your sexuality."
B)   "That is something that you should ask your doctor. He can direct you."
C)   "Sexual changes are common with cancer therapy. Let me get someone who can answer your questions."
D)   "How cancer treatment affects sexuality depends on how active you are and your age."

Question 9

The nurse is caring for a cancer survivor who has been hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU)for an unrelated and stable problem.The ICU has posted visiting hours,but some of the patient's family is from out of town and would like to see her even though it is not time.The patient has also voiced a desire to see her family.The nurse allows the family to visit even though it is not the "official" visiting time.Why would the nurse do this?

Accepted Answer

A)   Disagrees with the established time for visiting
B)   Realizes that the patient is dying because she is in the ICU
C)   Believes that the visit will help relieve psychological stress
D)   Feels there is no real reason to have limited visiting hours.

Question 10

The nurse is caring for a patient who has successfully undergone cancer therapy and will be discharged home soon.The patient is concerned about going home and not knowing what to do.The nurse reassures the patient,telling him that

Accepted Answer

A)   She alone will develop a plan of care that will tell exactly what needs to be done.
B)   If he has any issues, he can call his doctor and the doctor will know what to do.
C)   He has received the proper cancer treatment, and he will need nothing else.
D)   He will be part of a team that will provide any support and care that he may need.

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a patient who is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for cancer.The patient says that he can't wait until the therapy is done so that he can feel stronger,and asks the nurse about the value of cancer screening when his course of therapy is over.The nurse should inform the patient that cancer screening

Accepted Answer

A)   Should be done on an ongoing schedule.
B)   Probably will not be needed because the patient has been cured.
C)   Usually is not done even if recommended by the health care provider.
D)   Is not something that the health care provider should recommend.

Question 12

Which of the following are factors that help ease the psychological stress associated with having cancer?

Accepted Answer

A)   Viewing cancer as a challenge
B)   Female gender
C)   Using problem-oriented coping processes
D)   Social support system
E)   Being younger

Question 13

Nurses and other health care providers need to become more vigilant in recognizing cancer survivors and attempting to link them with the support and resources that they require because

Accepted Answer

A)   All health care agencies provide survivorship care plans.
B)   Survivorship care plans are reviewed with the patient after the patient goes home.
C)   Many survivors are discharged with no survivor plan.
D)   The plan does not deal with future cancer care.

Question 14

The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with cancer.The family of the patient asks the nurse for information.What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

A)   Refer family members to the physician because it is his/her role to prescribe.
B)   Inform them that few options are available.
C)   Tell them to take their family member to an NCI cancer center.
D)   Offer information about the different resources available.

Question 15

Why is cancer survivorship especially difficult for family members in the "sandwich generation"?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are totally dependent on their parents who have cancer but are still the providers, and hence, "make the sandwiches."
B)   They are the primary caregivers of children with cancer, and hence, "make their sandwiches."
C)   They are cancer survivors who are in between ("sandwiched")  treatments and require a great deal of support.
D)   They are caught in the middle of caring for their own immediate family, as well as a parent with cancer.

Exam 56: Caring for the Cancer Survivor