NSG320 Topic 6 Chapter 16 NCLEX Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
The registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the seven warning signs
of cancer. Which warning sign stated by the student nurse indicates ineffective
learning?
A. Indigestion
B. Severe headache
C. Unusual bleeding
D. Difficult in swallowing - ANSWER B.
Severe headache is not a warning sign of cancer. Severe headache may
indicate a stroke. Indigestion may indicate stomach cancer. Unusual bleeding
may indicate uterine cancer. Difficulty in swallowing may indicate esophageal
cancer.
Text Reference - p. 255
Which tumor classification in a patient indicates carcinoma in situ?
A. T0
B. Tis
C. Tx
D. T1-4 - ANSWER B.
The TNM classification system is used to determine the anatomic extent of the
disease involvement according to three parameters: tumor size and
invasiveness, presence or absence of regional spread to lymph nodes, and
metastases. Carcinoma in situ (CIS) has its own designation in the system (Tis),
because it has all the histologic characteristics of cancer except invasion, which
is a primary feature of the TNM staging system. T0 is the designation used when
there is no evidence of a primary tumor. TX is the designation used for tumors
that cannot be found or measured. T1-4 is the designation used for tumors that
ascend in degrees and increase in size.
Text Reference - p. 254
Which technique does the surgeon use to improve tissue localization during
biopsy?
A. Craniotomy
B. Thoracotomy
C. Sigmoidoscopy
D. Computed tomography - ANSWER D.
Computed tomography is a diagnostic procedure that can be performed in
combination with biopsy to improve tissue localization; this technique helps to
visualize the tumor. Craniotomy and thoracotomy are surgical procedures that
,are performed when the tumor is not easily accessible. Sigmoidoscopy is an
endoscopic examination, which is useful to diagnose cancer, but it does not help
in tumor localization.
Text Reference - p. 256
The nurse is with a patient who appears anxious while waiting for a biopsy for
cancer detection. Which statement made by the nurse will help calm this patient
down and achieve accurate test results?
A. "We will talk about the pain during the biopsy procedure."
B. "It's nothing new; every person detected with cancer feels this way."
C. "I know you are anxious but it is nothing new, you are just over thinking it."
D. "You may have pain during the procedure, but you will receive treatment for
it." - ANSWER D.
Reassuring and informing the patient that he or she will have pain during the
procedure that will be treated will help reduce the patient's anxiety and ensure
accurate test results. The patient is anxious that he or she may have cancer so
the nurse should focus on helping the patient. Redirecting the conversation by
saying "We will discuss later" will discourage open communication. Providing
false reassurance by saying, "These effects are common and everyone has the
same effect" will discourage communication and make the patient feel
neglected. Generalizing the patient's concern by saying that it's nothing new
and everyone feels same will also reduce effective communication.
Test-Taking Tip: Make certain that the answer you select is reasonable and
obtainable under ordinary circumstances and that the action can be carried out
in the given situation.
Text Reference - p. 255
What can the nurse do to facilitate cancer prevention for the patient in the
promotion stage of cancer development?
A. Teach the patient to exercise daily
B. Teach the patient promoting factors to avoid
C. Tell the patient to have the cancer surgically removed now
D. Teach the patient which vitamins will improve the immune system - ANSWER
B.
The promotion stage of cancer is characterized by the reversible proliferation of
the altered cells. Changing the lifestyle to avoid promoting factors (dietary fat,
obesity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption) can reduce the chance of
cancer development. Daily exercise and vitamins alone will not prevent cancer.
Surgery at this stage may not be possible without a critical mass of cells, and
this advice would not be the nurse's role.
Text Reference - p. 251
The medical records of a patient indicate stage IV malignant cancer. What would
be the anatomic extent of the disease?
A. Cancer is in situ
, B. Tumor growth is localized
C. Spread of cancer cells is limited
D. Cells have undergone metastasis - ANSWER D.
In a patient with stage IV malignant cancer, the cells have undergone
metastasis. Cancer in situ indicates stage 0 malignancy. The limited spread of
cancer cells indicates stage II malignancy. Localized growth of the tumor
indicates stage III malignancy.
Test-Taking Tip: Sometimes the reading of a question in the middle or toward the
end of an exam may trigger your mind with the answer or provide an important
clue to an earlier question.
Text Reference - p. 254
The medical records of a patient indicate a chondrosarcoma. What does the
nurse interpret from this finding?
A. The patient has a malignant tumor in bone.
B. The patient has a benign tumor in nerve cells.
C. The patient has a malignant tumor in cartilage.
D. The patient has a benign tumor in striated muscle - ANSWER C.
A chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumor in cartilage. A malignant tumor in bone
is an osteosarcoma. A benign tumor in the nerve cells is called a
ganglioneuroma. A benign tumor in the striated muscle is called a
rhabdomyoma.
Test-Taking Tip: Do not worry if you select the same numbered answer
repeatedly, because there usually is no pattern to the answers.
Text Reference - p. 254
The registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the precautionary
measures that should be maintained to reduce the risk of cancer. Which
statement made by the student nurse indicates the need for further teaching?
A. "Include regular exercise regime in your lifestyle."
B. "Include food items containing saturated fat in your diet."
C. "Undergo regular screening tests for cancer including self-examination."
D. "Avoid exposure to cancer-promoting agents, such as cigarette smoking." -
ANSWER B.
The student nurse's statement about including food items containing fat into the
diet indicates the need for further teaching. Saturated foods should not be
consumed because tumor cells multiply using these low-density lipoproteins
(LDLs). Regular exercise will help to maintain proper weight and relieve
symptoms of stress. It is important to undergo regular screening tests for
breast, colon, cervical, and prostate cancer as recommended by the American
Cancer Society. This should be done to identify the presence of cancer in its
initial stage. Avoiding exposure to cancer-promoting agents, such as cigarette
smoke, will reduce the chances of initiating cancer because cigarette smoke is
a carcinogen, capable of promoting cancer.
Questions With Correct Answers
The registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the seven warning signs
of cancer. Which warning sign stated by the student nurse indicates ineffective
learning?
A. Indigestion
B. Severe headache
C. Unusual bleeding
D. Difficult in swallowing - ANSWER B.
Severe headache is not a warning sign of cancer. Severe headache may
indicate a stroke. Indigestion may indicate stomach cancer. Unusual bleeding
may indicate uterine cancer. Difficulty in swallowing may indicate esophageal
cancer.
Text Reference - p. 255
Which tumor classification in a patient indicates carcinoma in situ?
A. T0
B. Tis
C. Tx
D. T1-4 - ANSWER B.
The TNM classification system is used to determine the anatomic extent of the
disease involvement according to three parameters: tumor size and
invasiveness, presence or absence of regional spread to lymph nodes, and
metastases. Carcinoma in situ (CIS) has its own designation in the system (Tis),
because it has all the histologic characteristics of cancer except invasion, which
is a primary feature of the TNM staging system. T0 is the designation used when
there is no evidence of a primary tumor. TX is the designation used for tumors
that cannot be found or measured. T1-4 is the designation used for tumors that
ascend in degrees and increase in size.
Text Reference - p. 254
Which technique does the surgeon use to improve tissue localization during
biopsy?
A. Craniotomy
B. Thoracotomy
C. Sigmoidoscopy
D. Computed tomography - ANSWER D.
Computed tomography is a diagnostic procedure that can be performed in
combination with biopsy to improve tissue localization; this technique helps to
visualize the tumor. Craniotomy and thoracotomy are surgical procedures that
,are performed when the tumor is not easily accessible. Sigmoidoscopy is an
endoscopic examination, which is useful to diagnose cancer, but it does not help
in tumor localization.
Text Reference - p. 256
The nurse is with a patient who appears anxious while waiting for a biopsy for
cancer detection. Which statement made by the nurse will help calm this patient
down and achieve accurate test results?
A. "We will talk about the pain during the biopsy procedure."
B. "It's nothing new; every person detected with cancer feels this way."
C. "I know you are anxious but it is nothing new, you are just over thinking it."
D. "You may have pain during the procedure, but you will receive treatment for
it." - ANSWER D.
Reassuring and informing the patient that he or she will have pain during the
procedure that will be treated will help reduce the patient's anxiety and ensure
accurate test results. The patient is anxious that he or she may have cancer so
the nurse should focus on helping the patient. Redirecting the conversation by
saying "We will discuss later" will discourage open communication. Providing
false reassurance by saying, "These effects are common and everyone has the
same effect" will discourage communication and make the patient feel
neglected. Generalizing the patient's concern by saying that it's nothing new
and everyone feels same will also reduce effective communication.
Test-Taking Tip: Make certain that the answer you select is reasonable and
obtainable under ordinary circumstances and that the action can be carried out
in the given situation.
Text Reference - p. 255
What can the nurse do to facilitate cancer prevention for the patient in the
promotion stage of cancer development?
A. Teach the patient to exercise daily
B. Teach the patient promoting factors to avoid
C. Tell the patient to have the cancer surgically removed now
D. Teach the patient which vitamins will improve the immune system - ANSWER
B.
The promotion stage of cancer is characterized by the reversible proliferation of
the altered cells. Changing the lifestyle to avoid promoting factors (dietary fat,
obesity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption) can reduce the chance of
cancer development. Daily exercise and vitamins alone will not prevent cancer.
Surgery at this stage may not be possible without a critical mass of cells, and
this advice would not be the nurse's role.
Text Reference - p. 251
The medical records of a patient indicate stage IV malignant cancer. What would
be the anatomic extent of the disease?
A. Cancer is in situ
, B. Tumor growth is localized
C. Spread of cancer cells is limited
D. Cells have undergone metastasis - ANSWER D.
In a patient with stage IV malignant cancer, the cells have undergone
metastasis. Cancer in situ indicates stage 0 malignancy. The limited spread of
cancer cells indicates stage II malignancy. Localized growth of the tumor
indicates stage III malignancy.
Test-Taking Tip: Sometimes the reading of a question in the middle or toward the
end of an exam may trigger your mind with the answer or provide an important
clue to an earlier question.
Text Reference - p. 254
The medical records of a patient indicate a chondrosarcoma. What does the
nurse interpret from this finding?
A. The patient has a malignant tumor in bone.
B. The patient has a benign tumor in nerve cells.
C. The patient has a malignant tumor in cartilage.
D. The patient has a benign tumor in striated muscle - ANSWER C.
A chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumor in cartilage. A malignant tumor in bone
is an osteosarcoma. A benign tumor in the nerve cells is called a
ganglioneuroma. A benign tumor in the striated muscle is called a
rhabdomyoma.
Test-Taking Tip: Do not worry if you select the same numbered answer
repeatedly, because there usually is no pattern to the answers.
Text Reference - p. 254
The registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the precautionary
measures that should be maintained to reduce the risk of cancer. Which
statement made by the student nurse indicates the need for further teaching?
A. "Include regular exercise regime in your lifestyle."
B. "Include food items containing saturated fat in your diet."
C. "Undergo regular screening tests for cancer including self-examination."
D. "Avoid exposure to cancer-promoting agents, such as cigarette smoking." -
ANSWER B.
The student nurse's statement about including food items containing fat into the
diet indicates the need for further teaching. Saturated foods should not be
consumed because tumor cells multiply using these low-density lipoproteins
(LDLs). Regular exercise will help to maintain proper weight and relieve
symptoms of stress. It is important to undergo regular screening tests for
breast, colon, cervical, and prostate cancer as recommended by the American
Cancer Society. This should be done to identify the presence of cancer in its
initial stage. Avoiding exposure to cancer-promoting agents, such as cigarette
smoke, will reduce the chances of initiating cancer because cigarette smoke is
a carcinogen, capable of promoting cancer.
