Oncology NCLEX practice UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and 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 d. Alteration in the
size, shape, and organization of differentiated cells
Anaplasia presence of completely undifferentiated tumor cells that don't resemble cells of the tissues of their origin.
Hyperplasia an increase in number of normal cells in a normal arrangement
Metaplasia replacement of one type of fully differentiated cell by another in tissues where the second type normally isn't
found
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 c. fatigue.
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. - CORRECT ANSWER c. fine needle aspiration.
Fine needle aspiration and biopsy provide cells for histologic examination to confirm a diagnosis of cancer.
7. A female client is receiving chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. Which assessment finding indicates a fluid and
electrolyte imbalance induced by chemotherapy?
a. Urine output of 400 ml in 8 hours
b. Serum potassium level of 3.6 mEq/L
c. Blood pressure of 120/64 to 130/72 mm Hg
d. Dry oral mucous membranes and cracked lips - CORRECT ANSWER d. Dry oral mucous membranes and
cracked lips
Chemotherapy commonly causes nausea and vomiting, which may lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
Signs of fluid loss include dry oral mucous membranes, cracked lips, decreased urine output (less than 40 ml/hour),
abnormally low blood pressure, and a serum potassium level below 3.5 mEq/L.
8. Nurse April is teaching a group of women to perform breast self-examination. The nurse should explain that the
purpose of performing the examination is to discover:
a. cancerous lumps.
b. areas of thickness or fullness.
c. changes from previous self-examinations.
d. fibrocystic masses. - CORRECT ANSWER c. changes from previous self-examinations.
, 9. A client, age 41, visits the gynecologist. After examining her, the physician suspects cervical cancer. The nurse reviews
the client's history for risk factors for this disease. Which history finding is a risk factor for cervical cancer?
a. Onset of sporadic sexual activity at age 17
b. Spontaneous abortion at age 19
c. Pregnancy complicated with eclampsia at age 27
d. Human papillomavirus infection at age 32 - CORRECT ANSWER d. Human papillomavirus infection at age 32
Other risk factors - frequent sexual intercourse before age 16, multiple sex partners, and multiple pregnancies.
11. The nurse is interviewing a male client about his past medical history. Which preexisting condition may lead the nurse
to suspect that a client has colorectal cancer?
a. Duodenal ulcers
b. Hemorrhoids
c. Weight gain
d. Polyps - CORRECT ANSWER d. Polyps
Weight loss is an indication of colorectal cancer.
12. Nurse Amy is speaking to a group of women about early detection of breast cancer. The average age of the women in
the group is 47. Following the American Cancer Society guidelines, the nurse should recommend that the women:
a. perform breast self-examination annually.
b. have a mammogram annually.
c. have a hormonal receptor assay annually.
d. have a physician conduct a clinical examination every 2 years. - CORRECT ANSWER b. have a mammogram
annually.
"Women older than age 40 should have a mammogram annually
14. For a female client newly diagnosed with radiation-induced thrombocytopenia, the nurse should include which
intervention in the plan of care?
a. Administering aspirin if the temperature exceeds 102° F (38.8° C)
b. Inspecting the skin for petechiae once every shift
c. Providing for frequent rest periods
d. Placing the client in strict isolation - CORRECT ANSWER b. Inspecting the skin for petechiae once every shift
Thrombocytopenia impairs blood clotting, the nurse should inspect the client regularly for signs of bleeding, such as
petechiae, purpura, epistaxis, and bleeding gums.
The nurse should avoid administering aspirin because it may increase the risk of bleeding. .
21. A 35 years old client has been receiving chemotherapy to treat cancer. Which assessment finding suggests that the
client has developed stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth)?
a. White, cottage cheese-like patches on the tongue
b. Yellow tooth discoloration
c. Red, open sores on the oral mucosa
d. Rust-colored sputum - CORRECT ANSWER c. Red, open sores on the oral mucosa
22. During chemotherapy, an oncology client has a nursing diagnosis of impaired oral mucous membrane related to
decreased nutrition and immunosuppression secondary to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy. Which nursing
intervention is most likely to decrease the pain of stomatitis?
a. Recommending that the client discontinue chemotherapy
b. Providing a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water for use as a mouth rinse
c. Monitoring the client's platelet and leukocyte counts
d. Checking regularly for signs and symptoms of stomatitis - CORRECT ANSWER b. Providing a solution of
hydrogen peroxide and water for use as a mouth rinse
Questions and 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 d. Alteration in the
size, shape, and organization of differentiated cells
Anaplasia presence of completely undifferentiated tumor cells that don't resemble cells of the tissues of their origin.
Hyperplasia an increase in number of normal cells in a normal arrangement
Metaplasia replacement of one type of fully differentiated cell by another in tissues where the second type normally isn't
found
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 c. fatigue.
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. - CORRECT ANSWER c. fine needle aspiration.
Fine needle aspiration and biopsy provide cells for histologic examination to confirm a diagnosis of cancer.
7. A female client is receiving chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. Which assessment finding indicates a fluid and
electrolyte imbalance induced by chemotherapy?
a. Urine output of 400 ml in 8 hours
b. Serum potassium level of 3.6 mEq/L
c. Blood pressure of 120/64 to 130/72 mm Hg
d. Dry oral mucous membranes and cracked lips - CORRECT ANSWER d. Dry oral mucous membranes and
cracked lips
Chemotherapy commonly causes nausea and vomiting, which may lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
Signs of fluid loss include dry oral mucous membranes, cracked lips, decreased urine output (less than 40 ml/hour),
abnormally low blood pressure, and a serum potassium level below 3.5 mEq/L.
8. Nurse April is teaching a group of women to perform breast self-examination. The nurse should explain that the
purpose of performing the examination is to discover:
a. cancerous lumps.
b. areas of thickness or fullness.
c. changes from previous self-examinations.
d. fibrocystic masses. - CORRECT ANSWER c. changes from previous self-examinations.
, 9. A client, age 41, visits the gynecologist. After examining her, the physician suspects cervical cancer. The nurse reviews
the client's history for risk factors for this disease. Which history finding is a risk factor for cervical cancer?
a. Onset of sporadic sexual activity at age 17
b. Spontaneous abortion at age 19
c. Pregnancy complicated with eclampsia at age 27
d. Human papillomavirus infection at age 32 - CORRECT ANSWER d. Human papillomavirus infection at age 32
Other risk factors - frequent sexual intercourse before age 16, multiple sex partners, and multiple pregnancies.
11. The nurse is interviewing a male client about his past medical history. Which preexisting condition may lead the nurse
to suspect that a client has colorectal cancer?
a. Duodenal ulcers
b. Hemorrhoids
c. Weight gain
d. Polyps - CORRECT ANSWER d. Polyps
Weight loss is an indication of colorectal cancer.
12. Nurse Amy is speaking to a group of women about early detection of breast cancer. The average age of the women in
the group is 47. Following the American Cancer Society guidelines, the nurse should recommend that the women:
a. perform breast self-examination annually.
b. have a mammogram annually.
c. have a hormonal receptor assay annually.
d. have a physician conduct a clinical examination every 2 years. - CORRECT ANSWER b. have a mammogram
annually.
"Women older than age 40 should have a mammogram annually
14. For a female client newly diagnosed with radiation-induced thrombocytopenia, the nurse should include which
intervention in the plan of care?
a. Administering aspirin if the temperature exceeds 102° F (38.8° C)
b. Inspecting the skin for petechiae once every shift
c. Providing for frequent rest periods
d. Placing the client in strict isolation - CORRECT ANSWER b. Inspecting the skin for petechiae once every shift
Thrombocytopenia impairs blood clotting, the nurse should inspect the client regularly for signs of bleeding, such as
petechiae, purpura, epistaxis, and bleeding gums.
The nurse should avoid administering aspirin because it may increase the risk of bleeding. .
21. A 35 years old client has been receiving chemotherapy to treat cancer. Which assessment finding suggests that the
client has developed stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth)?
a. White, cottage cheese-like patches on the tongue
b. Yellow tooth discoloration
c. Red, open sores on the oral mucosa
d. Rust-colored sputum - CORRECT ANSWER c. Red, open sores on the oral mucosa
22. During chemotherapy, an oncology client has a nursing diagnosis of impaired oral mucous membrane related to
decreased nutrition and immunosuppression secondary to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy. Which nursing
intervention is most likely to decrease the pain of stomatitis?
a. Recommending that the client discontinue chemotherapy
b. Providing a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water for use as a mouth rinse
c. Monitoring the client's platelet and leukocyte counts
d. Checking regularly for signs and symptoms of stomatitis - CORRECT ANSWER b. Providing a solution of
hydrogen peroxide and water for use as a mouth rinse
