Question 1

Which statement most accurately describes the cell kill hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The cell kill hypothesis suggests that antineoplastic drugs have the ability to eliminate cancer cells by killing a certain percentage of them with each round of treatment. Therefore, option B is the most accurate statement.

Question 2

A female client has experienced alopecia due to chemotherapy.She is distraught and feels that no one will want to look at her.How can the nurse best address the client's concerns?

Accepted Answer

The best way to address the client's concerns is to allow her to express her feelings about the effects of her hair loss. It is important for the nurse to listen actively and provide empathetic responses to validate the client's emotions. This can also help the nurse identify any underlying issues that may be contributing to the client's distress. A supportive and understanding approach can help the client feel heard and lessen feelings of isolation or despair. While showing photos of cancer survivors or telling the client her hair will grow back may be helpful in some cases, these responses do not directly address the client's feelings and concerns about her current situation. Bringing in a cancer survivor may also be helpful, but it should be done with the client's consent and at an appropriate time.

Question 3

The client experiences nausea and vomiting soon after chemotherapy treatments.What is the best action by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Administering an antiemetic 1-2 hours before chemotherapy can help prevent or decrease nausea and vomiting that the client may experience after chemotherapy. Increasing fluid intake cannot prevent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. Restricting food can cause further nausea and vomiting, and administering a sleeping medication during chemotherapy is not appropriate as the client needs to be awake and alert during the procedure.

Question 4

What would be the best response by the nurse to a client who says that her friends might not accept her now that she has had a mastectomy?

Accepted Answer

The best response by the nurse is to acknowledge the client's concerns and offer to talk about it. It is important for the nurse to show empathy and provide support during this sensitive time. Brushing off the client's concerns or suggesting she find new friends is not helpful and could be seen as dismissive or insensitive. It is also not helpful to minimize the client's feelings or assume her friends will just "get over it."

Question 5

Most chemotherapeutic medications are administered intermittently,using specific dosing schedules.A factor that does not affect the dosing schedule is:

Accepted Answer

The psychological stage of the client does not affect the dosing schedule of chemotherapy. The dosing schedule is determined by factors such as the type of tumor, stage of the disease, and the condition of the client, but not their psychological state.

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a client for myelosuppression.Which lab values would the nurse monitor for this client?
Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Myelosuppression is a condition that occurs when the bone marrow is unable to produce enough blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Therefore, monitoring the levels of RBCs, WBCs, and platelets is essential in managing this condition. Potassium and sodium levels may also be monitored, but they are not directly related to myelosuppression.

Question 7

The nurse understands that clients placed in reverse isolation might exhibit signs of depression because:

Accepted Answer

Clients in reverse isolation may develop depression because they may believe they are alone and that their family members will not want to visit them due to the risk of transmitting infections that could be life-threatening. This can lead to social isolation and loneliness, which can contribute to depression. The other options are not necessarily true for every client in reverse isolation.

Question 8

Which statement is not one of the reasons that clients undergoing chemotherapy usually receive several rounds of treatment spaced over time?

Accepted Answer

Cost of treatment is not one of the physiological reasons for spacing out rounds of chemotherapy. The other options listed all relate to the need for time between treatments to allow for recovery, immune system support, and targeting cancer cells.

Question 9

When discussing the outcome of treatment with a client,the nurse states that theoretically the cancer has been "cured" when:

Accepted Answer

Theoretically, cancer has been "cured" when every single cancer cell in the tumor has been eliminated. However, this does not guarantee that the cancer will not recur in the future.

Question 10

A client is receiving a cell-cycle-specific medication for the treatment of leukemia.The nurse recognizes that in order for these drugs to kill the most cancer cells,they should be administered in:

Accepted Answer

Cell-cycle-specific drugs target cells during specific phases of the cell cycle, so administering the medication in frequent, divided doses would increase the chances of targeting a larger number of cancer cells. A single large dose or infrequent doses may not be as effective in killing a larger number of cancer cells.

Question 11

The nurse is preparing to administer methotrexate by mouth to a client with cancer.For what reasons would the nurse use the PO route rather than the other routes of administration?
Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The PO (oral) route is often more acceptable to clients because it is less invasive than injections or IV administration, reducing discomfort and inconvenience. It also decreases the risk for phlebitis, which is inflammation of a vein often associated with IV therapy, and decreases the risk for tissue necrosis, which can occur with extravasation of certain medications during IV administration.

Question 12

The nurse on an oncology unit is planning care for clients with various types of cancer.The nurse recognizes that certain cancer cells have a low growth fraction and are less sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents,including:
Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Breast cancer cells and lung cancer cells have a low growth fraction and are less sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents compared to other types of cancer cells such as leukemia and lymphoma cells. Bone marrow cells are also less sensitive, but they are not cancer cells.

Question 13

A client who is receiving chemotherapy frequently complains of headache.The most effective nursing intervention would be to administer:

Accepted Answer

Acetaminophen is the preferred choice for managing headaches in patients undergoing chemotherapy because it is less likely to cause bleeding complications compared to NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, which can be a concern due to potential chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.

Question 14

A client is being prepared for the delivery of an intravenous chemotherapeutic agent.The client asks why the drug cannot be given by mouth.The nurse explains that an advantage to intravenous delivery is that:

Accepted Answer

Intravenous delivery allows for a consistent serum drug level to be maintained, whereas oral medications may be absorbed inconsistently and metabolized differently based on individual patient factors. This consistency is especially important in chemotherapy treatment as it helps to ensure proper dosing and effectiveness of the medication.

Question 15

Which statement most accurately describes the action that occurs during stage S (synthesis)of the cell cycle?

Accepted Answer

During stage S (synthesis) of the cell cycle, the cell duplicates its DNA in preparation for cell division. This is necessary for each daughter cell to receive a complete set of genetic information.

Question 16

The client receives several chemotherapeutic agents as treatments for cancer.The client asks the nurse why he needs so many drugs.What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Using multiple drugs in chemotherapy is called combination chemotherapy. It helps to kill more cancer cells by attacking them in different ways. This also helps to prevent drug resistance because cancer cells may be less likely to develop resistance to all of the drugs being used. While using multiple drugs may increase the incidence of side effects, it can also improve the effectiveness of the treatment. Cost-effectiveness is not typically the primary reason for using multiple drugs in chemotherapy.

Quiz 56: Basic Principles of Antineoplastic Therapy