OCN - Practice Tests Questions and
Answers
1. A patient has the following laboratory values: white blood cell
count 2100 mm3; neutrophils, segmented 23%; neutrophils, band
6%; hemoglobin 8.9 g/dl; and, platelets 100,000 mm 3.
The nurse's initial patient teaching includes:
A. washing hands frequently.
B. using an electric razor.
C. avoiding trauma.
D. taking daily stool softeners.: A. washing hands frequently
There are many nonpharmacologic interventions for the prevention of infection. Handwashing remains
the single most important intervention to prevent infection.
2. A patient is receiving the first dose of paclitaxel. The nurse should
be pre-
pared to treat the patient for:
A. shaking chills.
B. projectile vomiting.
C. hypersensitivity reaction.
,D. urinary retention.: C. hypersensitivity reaction
A side effect associated with paclitaxel is hypersensitivity reaction. Hypersensitivity is an exaggerated or
inappropriate immune response that may be localized or systemic. Pretreatment to prevent the
reaction includes administering cimetidine, diphenhydramine, and if not contraindicated,
dexamethasone.
3. A patient who completed treatment for malignant melanoma one
year ago
complains of still feeling tired. The nurse anticipates an order for:
A. darbepoetin.
B. methylphenidate.
C. lorazepam.
D. pegfilgrastim.: B. methylphenidate
Psychostimulants such as methylphenidate have been tested in certain populations including patients
with malignant
melanoma as well as in patients with advanced cancer. Patients reported improvement in symptoms of
cancer-related fatigue with the use of methylphenidate but it remains an area where more research is
needed.
4. A patient receiving 10 mg of sustained-release oxycodone every
12 hours
,requires 5 mg of immediate-release oxycodone five to six times daily.
The best adjustment in the pain medication regimen is to
request an order for:
A. 5 mg of immediate-release oxycodone every 3 hours.
B. 10 mg of immediate-release oxycodone every 6 hours.
C. 10 mg of sustained-release oxycodone every 8 hours.
D.30 mg of sustained-release oxycodone every 12 hours.: D. 30 mg of
sustained-release oxycodone every 12 hours
The first sign that an increase in opioid dose is needed is a decrease in the duration of analgesia for
a given opioid dose. Patients may report the need for an increased number of rescue doses.
Sustained release doses plus immediate-release (rescue) doses should be calculated. When slight
improvement in analgesia is needed, a 25%
increase in opioid dose may be sufficient; for a moderate improvement, 50%; and for a strong effect,
100% increase may be needed.
5. A patient with prostate cancer is taking oxycodone orally every
four hours as
needed for pain. At a home visit, the nurse learns the patient is
experiencing constant, dull back pain and he has not moved his
bowels for three days.
These symptoms most likely indicate:
A. ascites.
, B. hypercalcemia.
C. impending spinal cord compression.
D. an adverse effect of the oxycodone.: C. impending spinal cord compression
Spinal cord compression may result from tumor invasion into the vertebrae causing a collapse on the
spinal cord. Patients at high risk for cord compression include those with prostate cancer. Dull back
pain is an early symptom of spinal cord compression.
6. Which terms are associated with malignant tumors originating in
the epithelial tissue?
A. Osteo and chondra
B. Lympho and myelo
C. Adeno and squamous
D. Lipo and rhabdo: C. Adeno and squamous
Tumors are classified by the tissue of origin. The malignancies that arise from the epithelium are
squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, basal cell, and choriocarcinoma.
7. The severe pain associated with post-herpetic neuropathy is most
effectively
treated by:
A. propoxyphene.
Answers
1. A patient has the following laboratory values: white blood cell
count 2100 mm3; neutrophils, segmented 23%; neutrophils, band
6%; hemoglobin 8.9 g/dl; and, platelets 100,000 mm 3.
The nurse's initial patient teaching includes:
A. washing hands frequently.
B. using an electric razor.
C. avoiding trauma.
D. taking daily stool softeners.: A. washing hands frequently
There are many nonpharmacologic interventions for the prevention of infection. Handwashing remains
the single most important intervention to prevent infection.
2. A patient is receiving the first dose of paclitaxel. The nurse should
be pre-
pared to treat the patient for:
A. shaking chills.
B. projectile vomiting.
C. hypersensitivity reaction.
,D. urinary retention.: C. hypersensitivity reaction
A side effect associated with paclitaxel is hypersensitivity reaction. Hypersensitivity is an exaggerated or
inappropriate immune response that may be localized or systemic. Pretreatment to prevent the
reaction includes administering cimetidine, diphenhydramine, and if not contraindicated,
dexamethasone.
3. A patient who completed treatment for malignant melanoma one
year ago
complains of still feeling tired. The nurse anticipates an order for:
A. darbepoetin.
B. methylphenidate.
C. lorazepam.
D. pegfilgrastim.: B. methylphenidate
Psychostimulants such as methylphenidate have been tested in certain populations including patients
with malignant
melanoma as well as in patients with advanced cancer. Patients reported improvement in symptoms of
cancer-related fatigue with the use of methylphenidate but it remains an area where more research is
needed.
4. A patient receiving 10 mg of sustained-release oxycodone every
12 hours
,requires 5 mg of immediate-release oxycodone five to six times daily.
The best adjustment in the pain medication regimen is to
request an order for:
A. 5 mg of immediate-release oxycodone every 3 hours.
B. 10 mg of immediate-release oxycodone every 6 hours.
C. 10 mg of sustained-release oxycodone every 8 hours.
D.30 mg of sustained-release oxycodone every 12 hours.: D. 30 mg of
sustained-release oxycodone every 12 hours
The first sign that an increase in opioid dose is needed is a decrease in the duration of analgesia for
a given opioid dose. Patients may report the need for an increased number of rescue doses.
Sustained release doses plus immediate-release (rescue) doses should be calculated. When slight
improvement in analgesia is needed, a 25%
increase in opioid dose may be sufficient; for a moderate improvement, 50%; and for a strong effect,
100% increase may be needed.
5. A patient with prostate cancer is taking oxycodone orally every
four hours as
needed for pain. At a home visit, the nurse learns the patient is
experiencing constant, dull back pain and he has not moved his
bowels for three days.
These symptoms most likely indicate:
A. ascites.
, B. hypercalcemia.
C. impending spinal cord compression.
D. an adverse effect of the oxycodone.: C. impending spinal cord compression
Spinal cord compression may result from tumor invasion into the vertebrae causing a collapse on the
spinal cord. Patients at high risk for cord compression include those with prostate cancer. Dull back
pain is an early symptom of spinal cord compression.
6. Which terms are associated with malignant tumors originating in
the epithelial tissue?
A. Osteo and chondra
B. Lympho and myelo
C. Adeno and squamous
D. Lipo and rhabdo: C. Adeno and squamous
Tumors are classified by the tissue of origin. The malignancies that arise from the epithelium are
squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, basal cell, and choriocarcinoma.
7. The severe pain associated with post-herpetic neuropathy is most
effectively
treated by:
A. propoxyphene.
