MS Final Exam Study Guide

The nurse assesses a 76-yr-old man with chronic myeloid leukemia receiving chemotherapy using a kinase inhibitor medication. Which question is most important for the nurse to ask?

"Have you had a fever?"

The nurse is caring for a patient who is to begin receiving external radiation for a malignant tumor of the neck. While providing patient education, what potential adverse effects should the nurse discuss with the patient? A) Impaired nutritional status B) Cognitive changes C) Diarrhea D) Alopecia

A. Impaired Nutritional Status. Feedback: Alterations in oral mucosa, change and loss of taste, pain, and dysphasia often occur as a result of radiotherapy to the head and neck. The patient is at an increased risk of impaired nutritional status. Radiotherapy does not cause cognitive changes. Diarrhea is not a likely concern for this patient. Radiation only results in alopecia when targeted at the whole brain; radiation of other parts of the body does not lead to hair loss.

A client undergoes a biopsy of a suspicious lesion. The biopsy report classifies the lesion according to the TNM staging system as follows: Tis, N0, M0. What does this classification mean? a. No evidence of primary tumor, no abnormal regional lymph nodes, and no evidence of distant metastasis b. Carcinoma in situ, no abnormal regional lymph nodes, and no evidence of distant metastasis c. Can't assess tumor or regional lymph nodes and no evidence of metastasis d. Carcinoma in situ, no demonstrable metastasis of the regional lymph nodes, and ascending degrees of distant metastasis

Carcinoma in situ, no abnormal regional lymph nodes, and no evidence of distant metastasis

The nurse is providing care for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. When describing the process of respiration the nurse explains how oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the pulmonary capillaries and the alveoli. The nurse is describing what process?

Diffusion

You are caring for a patient admitted with a diagnosis of acute kidney injury. When you review your patients most recent laboratory reports, you note that the patient's magnesium levels are high. You should prioritize assessment for which of the following health problems?

Diminished deep tendon flexes.

The nurse is assessing the patient for the presence of a Chvosteks sign. What electrolyte imbalance would a positive Chvosteks sign indicate?

Hypocalcemia

You are working on a burns unit and one of your acutely ill patients is exhibiting signs and symptoms of third spacing. Based on this change in status, you should expect the patient to exhibit signs and symptoms of what imbalance?

Hypovolemia

A medical nurse educator is reviewing a patient's recent episode of metabolic acidosis with members of the nursing staff. What should the educator describe about the role of the kidneys in metabolic acidosis?

Kidneys excrete hydrogen ions & conserve bicarb ions to help restore balance.

Which is a growth-based classification of tumors? Sarcoma Carcinoma Malignancy Leukemia

Malignancy

You are caring for a patient with a diagnosis of pancreatitis. The patient was admitted from a homeless shelter and is a vague historian. The patient appears malnourished and on day 3 of the patient's admission total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has been started. Why would you know to start the infusion of TPN slowly?

Malnourished patients receiving PTN are at risk for hypophosphatemia if calories are started too aggressively.

You are an emergency-room nurse caring for a trauma patient. Your patient has the following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.26, PaCO2 28, HCO3 11 mEq/L. How would you interpret these results?

Metabolic Acidosis w/ a compensatory respiratory alkalosis.

You are caring for a 65-year-old male patient admitted to your medical unit 72 hours ago with pyloric stenosis. A nasogastric tube placed upon admission has been on low intermittent suction ever since. Upon review of the mornings blood work, you notice that the patients potassium is below reference range. You should recognize that the patient may be at risk for what imbalance?

Metabolic alkalosis

You are doing discharge teaching with a patient who has hypophosphatemia during his time in hospital. The patient has a diet ordered that is high in phosphate. What foods would you teach this patient to include in his diet? Select all that apply.

Milk, Poultry, & Liver.

A nurse in the neurologic ICU has orders to infuse a hypertonic solution into a patient with increased intracranial pressure. This solution will increase the number of dissolved particles in the patients blood, creating pressure for fluids in the tissues to shift into the capillaries and increase the blood volume. This process is best described as which of the following?

Osmosis & Osmolality

Which statement by a patient who is scheduled for a needle biopsy of the prostate indicates that the nurses teaching about the purpose of the biopsy has been effective?

The biopsy will help decide the treatment for my enlarged prostate.

A newly graduated RN has just finished a 6-week orientation to the oncology unit. Which client is most appropriate to assign to the new graduate?

A 45-year-old with pancytopenia who will require IV administration of erythropoietin (Procrit)

Which statement made by a client allows the nurse to recognize whether the client receiving brachytherapy for ovarian cancer understands the treatment?

"I will have a radioactive device in my body for a short time."

You are caring for a patient with a secondary diagnosis of hypermagnesemia. What assessment finding would be most consistent with this diagnosis?

Shallow Respirations

When the nurse is administering a vesicant chemotherapeutic agent intravenously, an important consideration is to

stop the infusion if swelling is observed at the site.

The MOST effectice method of administrating a chemotherapy agent that is a vesicant is to

use a central venous access device

Which of the following would be consistent with a benign neoplasm?

usually progressive and slow

You are caring for a patient who has a diagnosis of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Your patient's plan of care includes assessment of specific gravity every 4 hours. The results of this test will allow the nurse to assess what aspect of the patient's health?

Fluid Volume Status

What does myelosuppression result in?

Reduction in the number of circulating neutrophils, platelets, and erythrocytes (RBC, WBC, & platelets)

A patient with a longstanding diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder presents to the emergency room. The triage nurse notes upon assessment that the patient is hyperventilating. The triage nurse is aware that hyperventilation is the most common cause of which acid-base imbalance?

Respiratory ALKalosis.

A patient who is being treated for pneumonia starts complaining of sudden shortness of breath. An arterial blood gas (ABG) is drawn. The ABG has the following values: pH 7.21, PaCO2 64 mm Hg, HCO3 = 24 mm Hg. What does the ABG reflect?

Respiratory Acidosis

A nurse is planning care for a nephrology patient with a new nursing graduate. The nurse states, A patient in renal failure partially loses the ability to regulate changes in pH. What is the cause of this partial inability?

The kidneys regenerate and reabsorb bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH.

A hospitalized patient who has received chemotherapy for leukemia develops neutropenia. Which observation by the RN caring for the patient indicates that the nurse should take action?

The patients visitors bring in some fresh peaches from home.

Which statement is true about malignant tumors?

They gain access to the blood and lymphatic channels.

A client with metastatic pancreatic cancer underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumor in the pancreas. Despite the tumor being removed, the physician informs the client that chemotherapy must be started. Why might the physician opt for chemotherapy? To prevent metastasis Angiogenesis Stomatitis Fatigue

To prevent metastasis

A client returns to the surgeon's office for a report on a diagnostic procedure to determine the cell composition of the client's abdominal neoplasm. Which terms are significant to indicate the likelihood of the tumor spreading?

benign; neoplasm; angiogenesis

A client with emphysema is at a greater risk for developing which acid-base imbalance?

chronic respiratory acidosis

A patient with a large stomach tumor that is attached to the liver is scheduled to have a debulking procedure. The nurse explains that the expected outcome of this surgery is

decrease in tumor size to improve the effects of other therapy.

A patient is receiving intravesical bladder chemotherapy. The nurse will monitor for

hematuria

According to the TNM classification system, T0 means there is

no evidence of primary tumor.

When planning the care of a patient with a fluid imbalance, the nurse understands that in the human body, water and electrolytes move from the arterial capillary bed to the interstitial fluid. What causes this to occur?

Hydrostatic pressure resulting from the pumping heart.

When malignant cells are killed (tumor lysis syndrome), intracellular contents are released into the bloodstream. This leads to which of the following? Select all that apply. Hypercalcemia Hyperkalemia Hyperuricemia Hyperphosphatemia

Hyperkalemia Hyperuricemia Hyperphosphatemia

The nurse is describing some of the major characteristics of cancer to a patient who has recently received a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. When differentiating between benign and malignant cancer cells, the nurse should explain differences in which of the following aspects? Select all that apply (SATA): A) Rate of growth B) Ability to cause death C) Size of cells D) Cell contents E) Ability to spread

a. Rate of growth. b. Ability to cause death. e. Ability to spread. Feedback: Benign and malignant cells differ in many cellular growth characteristics, including the method and rate of growth, ability to metastasize or spread, general effects, destruction of tissue, and ability to cause death. Cells come in many sizes, both benign and malignant. Cell contents are basically the same, but they behave differently.

You are caring for a patient who is being treated on the oncology unit with a diagnosis of lung cancer with bone metastases. During your assessment, you note the patient complains of a new onset of weakness with abdominal pain. Further assessment suggests that the patient likely has a fluid volume deficit. You should recognize that this patient may be experiencing what electrolyte imbalance?

hyPERcalcemia

The nurse performs a breast exam on a client and finds a firm, non-moveable lump in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast that the client reports was not there 3 weeks ago. What does this finding suggest?

malignant tumor

The physician is attending to a 72-year-old client with a malignant brain tumor. The physician recommends immediate radiation therapy. What is a reason for the physician's recommendation? To remove the tumor from the brain To prevent the formation of new cancer cells To analyze the lymph nodes involved To destroy marginal tissues

To prevent the formation of new cancer cells

The client is diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. Which of the following features of a benign tumor is of most concern to the nurse? Random, rapid growth of the tumor Cells colonizing to distant body parts Tumor pressure against normal tissues Emission of abnormal proteins

Tumor pressure against normal tissues

An oncology nurse educator is providing health education to a patient who has been diagnosed with skin cancer. The patients wife has asked about the differences between normal cells and cancer cells. What characteristic of a cancer cell should the educator cite? A) Malignant cells contain more fibronectin than normal body cells. B) Malignant cells contain proteins called tumor-specific antigens. C) Chromosomes contained in cancer cells are more durable and stable than those of normal cells. D) The nuclei of cancer cells are unusually large, but regularly shaped.

b. Malignant cells contain PROTEINS called tumor-specific antigens. Feedback: - The cell membranes are altered in cancer cells, which affect fluid movement in and out of the cell. - The cell membrane of malignant cells also contains proteins called tumor-specific antigens. - Malignant cellular membranes also contain LESS fibronectin, a cellular cement. - Typically, nuclei of cancer cells are large and irregularly shaped (pleomorphism). - Fragility of chromosomes is commonly found when cancer cells are analyzed.

A 54-year-old has a diagnosis of breast cancer and is tearfully discussing her diagnosis with the nurse. The patient states, They tell me my cancer is malignant, while my coworkers breast tumor was benign. I just dont understand at all. When preparing a response to this patient, the nurse should be cognizant of what characteristic that distinguishes malignant cells from benign cells of the same tissue type? A) Slow rate of mitosis of cancer cells B) Different proteins in the cell membrane C) Differing size of the cells D) Different molecular structure in the cells

b. Different proteins in the cell membrane Feedback: The cell membrane of malignant cells also contains proteins called tumor-specific antigens (e.g., carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] and prostate-specific antigen [PSA]), which develop over time as thecells become less differentiated (mature). These proteins distinguish malignant cells from benign cells ofthe same tissue type.

You are caring for a patient admitted with a diagnosis of acute kidney injury. When you review your patients most recent laboratory reports, you note that the patients magnesium levels are high. You should prioritize assessment for which of the following health problems?

Deep Tendon Flexes To gauge a patients magnesium status, the nurse should check deep tendon reflexes. If the reflex is absent, this may indicate high serum magnesium.