Oncology Nursing Exam 2026/2027 – Correct Verified
Answers | Aligned with Oncology Nursing Society
Standards | OCN Certification Preparation ( Graded A)
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
1.Answer D. 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."
1
, Oncology Nursing Exam 2026/2027 – Correct Verified
Answers | Aligned with Oncology Nursing Society
Standards | OCN Certification Preparation ( Graded A)
2.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
3.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.
2
, Oncology Nursing Exam 2026/2027 – Correct Verified
Answers | Aligned with Oncology Nursing Society
Standards | OCN Certification Preparation ( Graded A)
b. stomatitis.
c. fatigue.
d. vomiting.
4.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.
5. Nurse April is teaching a client who suspects that she has a lump in her breast. The nurse
instructs the client that a diagnosis of breast cancer is confirmed by:
a. breast self-examination.
b. mammography.
c. fine needle aspiration.
d. chest X-ray.
5.Answer C. Fine needle aspiration and biopsy provide cells for histologic examination to
confirm a diagnosis of cancer. A breast self-examination, if done regularly, is the most reliable
method for detecting breast lumps early. Mammography is used to detect tumors that are too
small to palpate. Chest X-rays can be used to pinpoint rib metastasis.
6. A male client undergoes a laryngectomy to treat laryngeal cancer. When teaching the client
how to care for the neck stoma, the nurse should include which instruction?
a. "Keep the stoma uncovered."
b. "Keep the stoma dry."
c. "Have a family member perform stoma care initially until you get used to the procedure."
3
Answers | Aligned with Oncology Nursing Society
Standards | OCN Certification Preparation ( Graded A)
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
1.Answer D. 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."
1
, Oncology Nursing Exam 2026/2027 – Correct Verified
Answers | Aligned with Oncology Nursing Society
Standards | OCN Certification Preparation ( Graded A)
2.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
3.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.
2
, Oncology Nursing Exam 2026/2027 – Correct Verified
Answers | Aligned with Oncology Nursing Society
Standards | OCN Certification Preparation ( Graded A)
b. stomatitis.
c. fatigue.
d. vomiting.
4.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.
5. Nurse April is teaching a client who suspects that she has a lump in her breast. The nurse
instructs the client that a diagnosis of breast cancer is confirmed by:
a. breast self-examination.
b. mammography.
c. fine needle aspiration.
d. chest X-ray.
5.Answer C. Fine needle aspiration and biopsy provide cells for histologic examination to
confirm a diagnosis of cancer. A breast self-examination, if done regularly, is the most reliable
method for detecting breast lumps early. Mammography is used to detect tumors that are too
small to palpate. Chest X-rays can be used to pinpoint rib metastasis.
6. A male client undergoes a laryngectomy to treat laryngeal cancer. When teaching the client
how to care for the neck stoma, the nurse should include which instruction?
a. "Keep the stoma uncovered."
b. "Keep the stoma dry."
c. "Have a family member perform stoma care initially until you get used to the procedure."
3
