Harding: Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient who is scheduled for a breast biopsy asks the nurse the difference between a benign
tumor and a malignant tumor. Which answer by the nurse is accurate?
a. “Benign tumors do not cause damage to other tissues.”
b. “Benign tumors are likely to recur in the same location.”
c. “Malignant tumors may spread to other tissues or organs.”
d. “Malignant cells reproduce more rapidly than normal cells.”
ANS: C
The major difference between benign and malignant tumors is that malignant tumors invade
adjacent tissues and spread to distant tissues and benign tumors do not metastasize. The other
statements are inaccurate. Both types of tumors may cause damage to adjacent tissues.
Malignant cells do not reproduce more rapidly than normal cells. Benign tumors do not
usually recur.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
2. The nurse is caring for a patient receiving intravesical bladder chemotherapy. The nurse
should monitor for which adverse effect?
a. Nausea
b. Alopecia d. Xerostomia
c. Hematuria
ANS: C
, NURSINGTB.COM
The adverse effects of intravesical chemotherapy are confined to the bladder. The other
adverse effects are associated with systemic chemotherapy.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
3. The nurse is caring for a patient who smokes 2 packs/day. Which action by the nurse could
help reduce the patient’s risk of lung cancer?
a. Teach the patient about the seven warning signs of cancer.
b. Plan to monitor the patient’s carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level.
c. Teach the patient about annual chest x-rays for lung cancer screening.
d. Discuss risks associated with cigarettes during each patient encounter.
ANS: D
Teaching about the risks associated with cigarette smoking is recommended at every patient
encounter because cigarette smoking is associated with multiple health problems. The other
options may detect lung cancer that is already present but do not reduce the risk.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
,4. The nurse should suggest which food choice for a patient scheduled to receive external-beam
radiation for abdominal cancer?
a. Fruit salad
b. Baked chicken
c. Creamed broccoli
d. Toasted wheat bread
ANS: B
Protein is needed for wound healing. To minimize the diarrhea that is associated with bowel
radiation, the patient should avoid foods high in roughage, such as fruits and whole grains.
Lactose intolerance may develop secondary to radiation, so dairy products should also be
avoided.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
5. During a routine health examination, a 40-yr-old patient tells the nurse about a family history
of colon cancer. Which action should the nurse take next?
a. Schedule a sigmoidoscopy to provide baseline data.
b. Obtain more information about the patient’s relatives.
c. Teach the patient about the need for a colonoscopy at age 50.
d. Teach the patient how to do home testing for fecal occult blood.
ANS: B
The patient may be at increased risk for colon cancer, but the nurse’s first action should be
further assessment. The other actions may be appropriate, depending on the information that is
obtained from the patient with further questioning.
NURSINGTB.COM
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (analysis)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. A patient who is diagnosed with cervical cancer classified as Tis, N0, M0 asks the nurse what
the letters and numbers mean. Which response by the nurse is accurate?
a. “The cancer involves only the cervix.”
b. “The cancer cells look like normal cells.”
c. “Further testing is needed to determine the spread of the cancer.”
d. “It is difficult to determine the original site of the cervical cancer.”
ANS: A
Cancer in situ indicates that the cancer is localized to the cervix and is not invasive at this
time. Cell differentiation is not indicated by clinical staging. Because the cancer is in situ, the
origin is the cervix. Further testing is not indicated given that the cancer has not spread.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
7. The nurse teaches a patient who is scheduled for a prostate needle biopsy about the procedure.
Which statement by the patient indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The biopsy will remove the cancer in my prostate gland.”
b. “The biopsy will determine how much longer I have to live.”
c. “The biopsy will help decide the treatment for my enlarged prostate.”
d. “The biopsy will indicate whether the cancer has spread to other organs.”
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient who is scheduled for a breast biopsy asks the nurse the difference between a benign
tumor and a malignant tumor. Which answer by the nurse is accurate?
a. “Benign tumors do not cause damage to other tissues.”
b. “Benign tumors are likely to recur in the same location.”
c. “Malignant tumors may spread to other tissues or organs.”
d. “Malignant cells reproduce more rapidly than normal cells.”
ANS: C
The major difference between benign and malignant tumors is that malignant tumors invade
adjacent tissues and spread to distant tissues and benign tumors do not metastasize. The other
statements are inaccurate. Both types of tumors may cause damage to adjacent tissues.
Malignant cells do not reproduce more rapidly than normal cells. Benign tumors do not
usually recur.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
2. The nurse is caring for a patient receiving intravesical bladder chemotherapy. The nurse
should monitor for which adverse effect?
a. Nausea
b. Alopecia d. Xerostomia
c. Hematuria
ANS: C
, NURSINGTB.COM
The adverse effects of intravesical chemotherapy are confined to the bladder. The other
adverse effects are associated with systemic chemotherapy.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
3. The nurse is caring for a patient who smokes 2 packs/day. Which action by the nurse could
help reduce the patient’s risk of lung cancer?
a. Teach the patient about the seven warning signs of cancer.
b. Plan to monitor the patient’s carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level.
c. Teach the patient about annual chest x-rays for lung cancer screening.
d. Discuss risks associated with cigarettes during each patient encounter.
ANS: D
Teaching about the risks associated with cigarette smoking is recommended at every patient
encounter because cigarette smoking is associated with multiple health problems. The other
options may detect lung cancer that is already present but do not reduce the risk.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
,4. The nurse should suggest which food choice for a patient scheduled to receive external-beam
radiation for abdominal cancer?
a. Fruit salad
b. Baked chicken
c. Creamed broccoli
d. Toasted wheat bread
ANS: B
Protein is needed for wound healing. To minimize the diarrhea that is associated with bowel
radiation, the patient should avoid foods high in roughage, such as fruits and whole grains.
Lactose intolerance may develop secondary to radiation, so dairy products should also be
avoided.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
5. During a routine health examination, a 40-yr-old patient tells the nurse about a family history
of colon cancer. Which action should the nurse take next?
a. Schedule a sigmoidoscopy to provide baseline data.
b. Obtain more information about the patient’s relatives.
c. Teach the patient about the need for a colonoscopy at age 50.
d. Teach the patient how to do home testing for fecal occult blood.
ANS: B
The patient may be at increased risk for colon cancer, but the nurse’s first action should be
further assessment. The other actions may be appropriate, depending on the information that is
obtained from the patient with further questioning.
NURSINGTB.COM
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (analysis)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. A patient who is diagnosed with cervical cancer classified as Tis, N0, M0 asks the nurse what
the letters and numbers mean. Which response by the nurse is accurate?
a. “The cancer involves only the cervix.”
b. “The cancer cells look like normal cells.”
c. “Further testing is needed to determine the spread of the cancer.”
d. “It is difficult to determine the original site of the cervical cancer.”
ANS: A
Cancer in situ indicates that the cancer is localized to the cervix and is not invasive at this
time. Cell differentiation is not indicated by clinical staging. Because the cancer is in situ, the
origin is the cervix. Further testing is not indicated given that the cancer has not spread.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
7. The nurse teaches a patient who is scheduled for a prostate needle biopsy about the procedure.
Which statement by the patient indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The biopsy will remove the cancer in my prostate gland.”
b. “The biopsy will determine how much longer I have to live.”
c. “The biopsy will help decide the treatment for my enlarged prostate.”
d. “The biopsy will indicate whether the cancer has spread to other organs.”
