Excelsior College NUR 211 LifeSpan1 – Excelsior College –
2026 Complete Final Exam Question Bank with Answer
Explanations
Introduction:
This document contains a comprehensive collection of NUR
211 LifeSpan1 final exam practice questions with correct
answers and detailed rationales. It covers key nursing topics
including gynecologic cancers, breast cancer, leukemia,
lymphoma, pediatric oncology, stroke care, chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, and nursing interventions.
The material is designed for exam preparation and review of
essential lifespan nursing concepts. The question-and-answer
format helps reinforce clinical reasoning and NCLEX-style
test-taking skills.
Exam Questions and Answers
A 35-year-old woman is diagnosed with stage III breast cancer.
She seems to be extremely anxious. What action by the nurse
is best?
a. Encourage the client to search the Internet for information
tonight.
b. Ask the client if sexuality has been a problem with her
partner.
c. Explore the idea of a referral to a breast cancer support
group.
,d. Assess whether there has been any mental illness in her
past. --- correct precise answer ---c. Explore the idea of a
referral to a breast cancer support group.
Support for the diagnosis would be best with a referral to a
breast cancer support group. The Internet may be a good
source of information, but the day of diagnosis would be too
soon. The nurse could assess the frequency and satisfaction of
sexual relations but should not assume that there is a problem
in that area. Assessment of mental illness is not an
appropriate action.
A client has just returned from a right radical mastectomy.
Which action by unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) would
the nurse consider unsafe?
a. Checking the amount of urine in the urine catheter
collection bag
b. Elevating the right arm on a pillow
c. Taking the blood pressure on the right arm
d. Encouraging the client to squeeze a rolled washcloth ---
correct precise answer ---c. Taking the blood pressure on the
right arm
Health care professionals need to avoid the arm on the side of
the surgery for blood pressure measurement, injections, or
blood draws. Since lymph nodes are removed, lymph drainage
would be compromised. The pressure from the blood pressure
cuff could promote swelling. Infection could occur with
,injections and blood draws. Checking urine output, elevation
of the affected arm on a pillow, and encouraging beginning
exercises are all safe postoperative interventions.
What comfort measures can only be performed by a nurse, as
opposed to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), for a client
who returned from a left modified radical mastectomy 4 hours
ago?
a. Placing the head of bed at 30 degrees
b. Elevating the left arm on a pillow
c. Administering morphine for pain at a 4 on a 0-to-10 scale
d. Supporting the left arm while initially ambulating the client
--- correct precise answer ---c. Administering morphine for
pain at a 4 on a 0-to-10 scale
Only the nurse is authorized to administer medications, but
the UAP could inform the nurse about the rating of pain by the
client. The UAP could position the bed to 30 degrees and
elevate the client's arm on a pillow to facilitate lymphatic
fluid drainage return. The client's arm should be supported
while walking at first but then allowed to hang straight by the
side. The UAP could support the arm while walking the client.
A client is starting hormonal therapy with tamoxifen
(Nolvadex) to lower the risk for breast cancer. What
information needs to be explained by the nurse regarding the
action of this drug?
a. It blocks the release of luteinizing hormone.
, b. It interferes with cancer cell division.
c. It selectively blocks estrogen in the breast.
d. It inhibits DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells. ---
correct precise answer ---c. It selectively blocks estrogen in
the breast.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) reduces the estrogen available to
breast tumors to stop or prevent growth. This drug does not
block the release of luteinizing hormone to prevent the
ovaries from producing estrogen; leuprolide (Lupron) does
this. Chemotherapy agents such as ixabepilone (Ixempra)
interfere with cancer cell division, and doxorubicin
(Adriamycin) inhibits DNA synthesis in susceptible cells.
A client is placed on a medical regimen of doxorubicin
(Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and fluorouracil
(5-FU) for breast cancer. Which side effect seen in the client
should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
a. Shortness of breath
b. Nausea and vomiting
c. Hair loss
d. Mucositis --- correct precise answer ---a. Shortness of
breath
Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) can cause cardiac problems with
symptoms of extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, chronic
cough, and edema. These need to be reported as soon as
possible to the provider. Nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and
2026 Complete Final Exam Question Bank with Answer
Explanations
Introduction:
This document contains a comprehensive collection of NUR
211 LifeSpan1 final exam practice questions with correct
answers and detailed rationales. It covers key nursing topics
including gynecologic cancers, breast cancer, leukemia,
lymphoma, pediatric oncology, stroke care, chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, and nursing interventions.
The material is designed for exam preparation and review of
essential lifespan nursing concepts. The question-and-answer
format helps reinforce clinical reasoning and NCLEX-style
test-taking skills.
Exam Questions and Answers
A 35-year-old woman is diagnosed with stage III breast cancer.
She seems to be extremely anxious. What action by the nurse
is best?
a. Encourage the client to search the Internet for information
tonight.
b. Ask the client if sexuality has been a problem with her
partner.
c. Explore the idea of a referral to a breast cancer support
group.
,d. Assess whether there has been any mental illness in her
past. --- correct precise answer ---c. Explore the idea of a
referral to a breast cancer support group.
Support for the diagnosis would be best with a referral to a
breast cancer support group. The Internet may be a good
source of information, but the day of diagnosis would be too
soon. The nurse could assess the frequency and satisfaction of
sexual relations but should not assume that there is a problem
in that area. Assessment of mental illness is not an
appropriate action.
A client has just returned from a right radical mastectomy.
Which action by unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) would
the nurse consider unsafe?
a. Checking the amount of urine in the urine catheter
collection bag
b. Elevating the right arm on a pillow
c. Taking the blood pressure on the right arm
d. Encouraging the client to squeeze a rolled washcloth ---
correct precise answer ---c. Taking the blood pressure on the
right arm
Health care professionals need to avoid the arm on the side of
the surgery for blood pressure measurement, injections, or
blood draws. Since lymph nodes are removed, lymph drainage
would be compromised. The pressure from the blood pressure
cuff could promote swelling. Infection could occur with
,injections and blood draws. Checking urine output, elevation
of the affected arm on a pillow, and encouraging beginning
exercises are all safe postoperative interventions.
What comfort measures can only be performed by a nurse, as
opposed to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), for a client
who returned from a left modified radical mastectomy 4 hours
ago?
a. Placing the head of bed at 30 degrees
b. Elevating the left arm on a pillow
c. Administering morphine for pain at a 4 on a 0-to-10 scale
d. Supporting the left arm while initially ambulating the client
--- correct precise answer ---c. Administering morphine for
pain at a 4 on a 0-to-10 scale
Only the nurse is authorized to administer medications, but
the UAP could inform the nurse about the rating of pain by the
client. The UAP could position the bed to 30 degrees and
elevate the client's arm on a pillow to facilitate lymphatic
fluid drainage return. The client's arm should be supported
while walking at first but then allowed to hang straight by the
side. The UAP could support the arm while walking the client.
A client is starting hormonal therapy with tamoxifen
(Nolvadex) to lower the risk for breast cancer. What
information needs to be explained by the nurse regarding the
action of this drug?
a. It blocks the release of luteinizing hormone.
, b. It interferes with cancer cell division.
c. It selectively blocks estrogen in the breast.
d. It inhibits DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells. ---
correct precise answer ---c. It selectively blocks estrogen in
the breast.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) reduces the estrogen available to
breast tumors to stop or prevent growth. This drug does not
block the release of luteinizing hormone to prevent the
ovaries from producing estrogen; leuprolide (Lupron) does
this. Chemotherapy agents such as ixabepilone (Ixempra)
interfere with cancer cell division, and doxorubicin
(Adriamycin) inhibits DNA synthesis in susceptible cells.
A client is placed on a medical regimen of doxorubicin
(Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and fluorouracil
(5-FU) for breast cancer. Which side effect seen in the client
should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
a. Shortness of breath
b. Nausea and vomiting
c. Hair loss
d. Mucositis --- correct precise answer ---a. Shortness of
breath
Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) can cause cardiac problems with
symptoms of extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, chronic
cough, and edema. These need to be reported as soon as
possible to the provider. Nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and
