Oncology NCLEX 2026-2027 Practice
Sample Questions Correct Answers
1. A male client has an abnormal result on a Papanicolaou test. After admitting, he read his
chart while the nurse was out of the room, the client asks what dysplasia means. Which
definition should the nurse provide?
a. Presence of completely undifferentiated tumor cells that don't resemble cells of the tissues of
their origin
b. Increase in the number of normal cells in a normal arrangement in a tissue or an organ
c. Replacement of one type of fully differentiated cell by another in tissues where the second
type normally isn't found
d. Alteration in the size, shape, and organization of differentiated cells - correct answer:
AnswerD. Dysplasia refers to an alteration in the size, shape, and organization of differentiated
cells. The presence of completely undifferentiated tumor cells that don't resemble cells of the
tissues of their origin is called anaplasia. An increase in the number of normal cells in a normal
arrangement in a tissue or an organ is called hyperplasia. Replacement of one type of fully
differentiated cell by another in tissues where the second type normally isn't found is called
metaplasia.
2. For a female client with newly diagnosed cancer, the nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of
Anxiety related to the threat of death secondary to cancer diagnosis. Which expected outcome
would be appropriate for this client?
a. "Client verbalizes feelings of anxiety."
b. "Client doesn't guess at prognosis."
c. "Client uses any effective method to reduce tension."
d. "Client stops seeking information." - correct answer: .Answer A. Verbalizing feelings is the
client's first step in coping with the situational crisis. It also helps the health care team gain
insight into the client's feelings, helping guide psychosocial care. Option B is inappropriate
, because suppressing speculation may prevent the client from coming to terms with the crisis
and planning accordingly. Option C is undesirable because some methods of reducing tension,
such as illicit drug or alcohol use, may prevent the client from coming to terms with the threat
of death as well as cause physiologic harm. Option D isn't appropriate because seeking
information can help a client with cancer gain a sense of control over the crisis.
3. A male client with a cerebellar brain tumor is admitted to an acute care facility. The nurse
formulates a nursing diagnosis of Risk for injury. Which "related-to" phrase should the nurse add
to complete the nursing diagnosis statement?
a. Related to visual field deficits
b. Related to difficulty swallowing
c. Related to impaired balance
d. Related to psychomotor seizures - correct answer: .Answer C. A client with a cerebellar brain
tumor may suffer injury from impaired balance as well as disturbed gait and incoordination.
Visual field deficits, difficulty swallowing, and psychomotor seizures may result from dysfunction
of the pituitary gland, pons, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, or temporal lobe — not from a
cerebellar brain tumor. Difficulty swallowing suggests medullary dysfunction. Psychomotor
seizures suggest temporal lobe dysfunction.
4. A female client with 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. stomatitis.
c. fatigue.
d. vomiting. - correct answer: Answer C. 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 therapy.
Sample Questions Correct Answers
1. A male client has an abnormal result on a Papanicolaou test. After admitting, he read his
chart while the nurse was out of the room, the client asks what dysplasia means. Which
definition should the nurse provide?
a. Presence of completely undifferentiated tumor cells that don't resemble cells of the tissues of
their origin
b. Increase in the number of normal cells in a normal arrangement in a tissue or an organ
c. Replacement of one type of fully differentiated cell by another in tissues where the second
type normally isn't found
d. Alteration in the size, shape, and organization of differentiated cells - correct answer:
AnswerD. Dysplasia refers to an alteration in the size, shape, and organization of differentiated
cells. The presence of completely undifferentiated tumor cells that don't resemble cells of the
tissues of their origin is called anaplasia. An increase in the number of normal cells in a normal
arrangement in a tissue or an organ is called hyperplasia. Replacement of one type of fully
differentiated cell by another in tissues where the second type normally isn't found is called
metaplasia.
2. For a female client with newly diagnosed cancer, the nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of
Anxiety related to the threat of death secondary to cancer diagnosis. Which expected outcome
would be appropriate for this client?
a. "Client verbalizes feelings of anxiety."
b. "Client doesn't guess at prognosis."
c. "Client uses any effective method to reduce tension."
d. "Client stops seeking information." - correct answer: .Answer A. Verbalizing feelings is the
client's first step in coping with the situational crisis. It also helps the health care team gain
insight into the client's feelings, helping guide psychosocial care. Option B is inappropriate
, because suppressing speculation may prevent the client from coming to terms with the crisis
and planning accordingly. Option C is undesirable because some methods of reducing tension,
such as illicit drug or alcohol use, may prevent the client from coming to terms with the threat
of death as well as cause physiologic harm. Option D isn't appropriate because seeking
information can help a client with cancer gain a sense of control over the crisis.
3. A male client with a cerebellar brain tumor is admitted to an acute care facility. The nurse
formulates a nursing diagnosis of Risk for injury. Which "related-to" phrase should the nurse add
to complete the nursing diagnosis statement?
a. Related to visual field deficits
b. Related to difficulty swallowing
c. Related to impaired balance
d. Related to psychomotor seizures - correct answer: .Answer C. A client with a cerebellar brain
tumor may suffer injury from impaired balance as well as disturbed gait and incoordination.
Visual field deficits, difficulty swallowing, and psychomotor seizures may result from dysfunction
of the pituitary gland, pons, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, or temporal lobe — not from a
cerebellar brain tumor. Difficulty swallowing suggests medullary dysfunction. Psychomotor
seizures suggest temporal lobe dysfunction.
4. A female client with 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. stomatitis.
c. fatigue.
d. vomiting. - correct answer: Answer C. 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 therapy.
