Oncology Questions,Answer & Rationale Adult Health & Illness

ONCOLOGY QUESTIONS ADULT HEALTH & ILLNESS QUESTION Nurse Melinda is caring for a client who is postoperative following a hysterectomy and the physician changes the client’s diet from NPO status to clear liquids. The nurse makes which priority assessment before administering the diet? A. Bowel sounds B. Ability to ambulate C. Incision appearance D. Urine specific gravity ANSWER & RATIONALE A. The client is kept NPO until peristalsis returns, usually in 4 to 6 days. When signs of bowel function return, clear fluids are given to the client. If no distention occurs, the diet is advanced as tolerated. The most important assessment is to assess bowel sounds before feeding the client. Options B, C, and D are unrelated to the subject of the question. QUESTION Mr. Roland is receiving external radiation to the neck for cancer of the larynx. What is the most likely side effect to be expected? A. Dyspnea B. Diarrhea C. Sore Throat D. Constipation ANSWER C. In general, only the area in the treatment field is affected by the radiation. Skin reactions, fatigue, nausea, and anorexia may occur with radiation to any site, whereas other side effects occur only when specific areas are involved in treatment. A client receiving radiation to the larynx is most likely to experience a sore throat. Options B and D may occur with radiation to the gastrointestinal tract. Dyspnea may occur with lung involvement. QUESTION Miss Penny has cancer is scheduled for radiation therapy. The nurse knows that radiation at any treatment site may cause a certain adverse effect. Therefore, the nurse should prepare the client to expect: A. Hair Loss B. Fatigue C. Stomatitis D. Vomiting ANSWER B. Radiation therapy may cause fatigue, skin toxicities, and anorexia regardless of the treatment site. Hair loss, stomatitis, and vomiting are site-specific, not generalized, adverse effects of radiation therap