NSG ONCOLOGY NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
- Care Continuum and Health Promotion
- Oncology Nursing Practice and Scope
- Treatment Modalities
- Symptom Management and Supportive Care
- Oncologic Emergencies
- Psychosocial Dimensions of Care
- Ethics and Professional Standards
- Regulatory and Legal Compliance
Introduction
This exam assesses comprehensive knowledge and clinical
judgment essential for oncology nursing practice. It evaluates
competence in cancer prevention, treatment modalities, symptom
management, oncologic emergencies, and psychosocial support.
The multiple-choice and scenario-based structure emphasizes
real-world application, critical thinking, and evidence-based
decision-making. Candidates demonstrate ability to prioritize
care, recognize complications, administer therapies safely,
and advocate for patients across the cancer care continuum.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A patient with stage III breast cancer is scheduled to receive doxorubicin. Before administration, the nurse assesses the patient's left arm for signs of
extravasation. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Mild redness at the infusion site
B. Complaints of burning sensation during infusion
C. Slight swelling around the IV catheter
D. Temperature of 99.2°F (37.3°C)
🟢 B. Complaints of burning sensation during infusion
,🔴 RATIONALE: Burning sensation during anthracycline infusion is a classic sign of extravasation, which requires immediate cessation of infusion
to prevent severe tissue necrosis. Anthracyclines are vesicants that cause significant tissue damage if they leak into surrounding tissue.
Question 2
Which screening test is recommended for average-risk adults starting at age 45 for colorectal cancer early detection?
A. Annual fecal occult blood test
B. Colonoscopy every 10 years
C. Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
D. CT colonography every 5 years
🟢 B. Colonoscopy every 10 years
🔴 RATIONALE: Current guidelines from the American Cancer Society recommend colonoscopy every 10 years as the preferred screening method
for average-risk adults starting at age 45. It allows for both visualization and removal of precancerous polyps.
Question 3
A patient receiving cisplatin chemotherapy reports tinnitus and decreased hearing in the right ear. Which adverse effect is the nurse suspecting?
A. Nephrotoxicity
B. Ototoxicity
C. Neurotoxicity
D. Cardiotoxicity
🟢 B. Ototoxicity
🔴 RATIONALE: Cisplatin is well-known for causing ototoxicity, which presents as tinnitus and hearing loss, particularly at high frequencies. This is
a dose-limiting toxicity that requires monitoring and may necessitate dose adjustment.
Question 4
Which intervention is priority for a patient with tumor lysis syndrome?
,A. Administer antiemetics
B. Initiate aggressive IV hydration
C. Provide pain management
D. Encourage oral nutrition
🟢 B. Initiate aggressive IV hydration
🔴 RATIONALE: Aggressive IV hydration is the cornerstone of tumor lysis syndrome management to prevent uric acid and calcium phosphate
precipitation in renal tubules. It helps maintain high urine output and prevents acute kidney injury.
Question 5
A patient with advanced ovarian cancer expresses concern about fertility preservation before starting treatment. Which response by the nurse is most
appropriate?
A. "Fertility is not a concern with ovarian cancer treatment."
B. "Let me contact your healthcare provider to discuss fertility preservation options."
C. "You should focus on treatment first and worry about fertility later."
D. "Most women with ovarian cancer cannot have children anyway."
🟢 B. "Let me contact your healthcare provider to discuss fertility preservation options."
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse should advocate for the patient by facilitating discussion about fertility preservation options with the healthcare
provider. This respects patient autonomy and addresses important psychosocial concerns before treatment begins.
Question 6
Which stage of cancer is characterized by local invasion without regional lymph node involvement or distant metastasis?
A. Stage 0
B. Stage I
C. Stage II
D. Stage III
🟢 B. Stage I
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Stage I cancer indicates a small, localized tumor that has invaded local tissue but has not spread to regional lymph nodes or distant
sites. Stage 0 is carcinoma in situ, Stage II involves larger tumors or limited lymph node involvement, and Stage III indicates more extensive regional
spread.
Question 7
A patient receiving immunotherapy develops fever, hypotension, and difficulty breathing within 30 minutes of infusion initiation. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Administer antipyretics
B. Stop the infusion immediately
C. Increase the infusion rate
D. Monitor vital signs every 15 minutes
🟢 B. Stop the infusion immediately
🔴 RATIONALE: These symptoms indicate a potential hypersensitivity reaction or cytokine release syndrome, which are medical emergencies. The
infusion must be stopped immediately to prevent progression to anaphylaxis or severe immune-related adverse events.
Question 8
Which vitamin deficiency is most common in patients with chronic pancreatitis and malabsorption?
A. Vitamin B12
B. Vitamin D
C. Vitamin A
D. Vitamin K
🟢 A. Vitamin B12
🔴 RATIONALE: Patients with chronic pancreatitis often develop vitamin B12 deficiency due to impaired pancreatic enzyme production needed for
B12 release from binding proteins in the digestive tract, leading to malabsorption.
Question 9
A patient with lung cancer presents with facial swelling, distended neck veins, and cough. Which oncologic emergency is most likely?
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
- Care Continuum and Health Promotion
- Oncology Nursing Practice and Scope
- Treatment Modalities
- Symptom Management and Supportive Care
- Oncologic Emergencies
- Psychosocial Dimensions of Care
- Ethics and Professional Standards
- Regulatory and Legal Compliance
Introduction
This exam assesses comprehensive knowledge and clinical
judgment essential for oncology nursing practice. It evaluates
competence in cancer prevention, treatment modalities, symptom
management, oncologic emergencies, and psychosocial support.
The multiple-choice and scenario-based structure emphasizes
real-world application, critical thinking, and evidence-based
decision-making. Candidates demonstrate ability to prioritize
care, recognize complications, administer therapies safely,
and advocate for patients across the cancer care continuum.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A patient with stage III breast cancer is scheduled to receive doxorubicin. Before administration, the nurse assesses the patient's left arm for signs of
extravasation. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Mild redness at the infusion site
B. Complaints of burning sensation during infusion
C. Slight swelling around the IV catheter
D. Temperature of 99.2°F (37.3°C)
🟢 B. Complaints of burning sensation during infusion
,🔴 RATIONALE: Burning sensation during anthracycline infusion is a classic sign of extravasation, which requires immediate cessation of infusion
to prevent severe tissue necrosis. Anthracyclines are vesicants that cause significant tissue damage if they leak into surrounding tissue.
Question 2
Which screening test is recommended for average-risk adults starting at age 45 for colorectal cancer early detection?
A. Annual fecal occult blood test
B. Colonoscopy every 10 years
C. Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
D. CT colonography every 5 years
🟢 B. Colonoscopy every 10 years
🔴 RATIONALE: Current guidelines from the American Cancer Society recommend colonoscopy every 10 years as the preferred screening method
for average-risk adults starting at age 45. It allows for both visualization and removal of precancerous polyps.
Question 3
A patient receiving cisplatin chemotherapy reports tinnitus and decreased hearing in the right ear. Which adverse effect is the nurse suspecting?
A. Nephrotoxicity
B. Ototoxicity
C. Neurotoxicity
D. Cardiotoxicity
🟢 B. Ototoxicity
🔴 RATIONALE: Cisplatin is well-known for causing ototoxicity, which presents as tinnitus and hearing loss, particularly at high frequencies. This is
a dose-limiting toxicity that requires monitoring and may necessitate dose adjustment.
Question 4
Which intervention is priority for a patient with tumor lysis syndrome?
,A. Administer antiemetics
B. Initiate aggressive IV hydration
C. Provide pain management
D. Encourage oral nutrition
🟢 B. Initiate aggressive IV hydration
🔴 RATIONALE: Aggressive IV hydration is the cornerstone of tumor lysis syndrome management to prevent uric acid and calcium phosphate
precipitation in renal tubules. It helps maintain high urine output and prevents acute kidney injury.
Question 5
A patient with advanced ovarian cancer expresses concern about fertility preservation before starting treatment. Which response by the nurse is most
appropriate?
A. "Fertility is not a concern with ovarian cancer treatment."
B. "Let me contact your healthcare provider to discuss fertility preservation options."
C. "You should focus on treatment first and worry about fertility later."
D. "Most women with ovarian cancer cannot have children anyway."
🟢 B. "Let me contact your healthcare provider to discuss fertility preservation options."
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse should advocate for the patient by facilitating discussion about fertility preservation options with the healthcare
provider. This respects patient autonomy and addresses important psychosocial concerns before treatment begins.
Question 6
Which stage of cancer is characterized by local invasion without regional lymph node involvement or distant metastasis?
A. Stage 0
B. Stage I
C. Stage II
D. Stage III
🟢 B. Stage I
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Stage I cancer indicates a small, localized tumor that has invaded local tissue but has not spread to regional lymph nodes or distant
sites. Stage 0 is carcinoma in situ, Stage II involves larger tumors or limited lymph node involvement, and Stage III indicates more extensive regional
spread.
Question 7
A patient receiving immunotherapy develops fever, hypotension, and difficulty breathing within 30 minutes of infusion initiation. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Administer antipyretics
B. Stop the infusion immediately
C. Increase the infusion rate
D. Monitor vital signs every 15 minutes
🟢 B. Stop the infusion immediately
🔴 RATIONALE: These symptoms indicate a potential hypersensitivity reaction or cytokine release syndrome, which are medical emergencies. The
infusion must be stopped immediately to prevent progression to anaphylaxis or severe immune-related adverse events.
Question 8
Which vitamin deficiency is most common in patients with chronic pancreatitis and malabsorption?
A. Vitamin B12
B. Vitamin D
C. Vitamin A
D. Vitamin K
🟢 A. Vitamin B12
🔴 RATIONALE: Patients with chronic pancreatitis often develop vitamin B12 deficiency due to impaired pancreatic enzyme production needed for
B12 release from binding proteins in the digestive tract, leading to malabsorption.
Question 9
A patient with lung cancer presents with facial swelling, distended neck veins, and cough. Which oncologic emergency is most likely?
