OCN Practice Test 2024 Exam Questions
with Correct Answers
What is the primary purpose for providing interprofessional oncology care?
a. delivering cost-effective services
b. standardizing patient communication
c. improving patient outcomes
d. meeting regulatory standards - Answer-c. improving patient outcomes
Quality of practice includes the oncology nurse participating in interprofessional teams
to address outcomes and enhance factors that promote safe and effective patient
outcomes.
What is the shortest phase of the cell cycle?
a. synthesis
b. gap 2
c. mitosis
d. gap 1 - Answer-c. mitosis
Mitosis is the shortest phase of the cell's life cycle.
A patient with cancer states "What is the point of living if I have cancer? I am going to
die anyway. I should just sit at home." Which of the following statements made by the
nurse offers the most therapeutic approach?
a. "let's explore some ways you can engage and enjoy life"
b. "a pessimistic attitude puts you at risk for depression. Are you depressed?"
c. "You sound anxious. Make sure to discuss this with your physician"
d. "I will refer you to the social worker to talk through your thoughts" - Answer-A. "let's
explore some ways you can engage and enjoy life"
A patient experiencing helplessness and possibly depression may benefit from gently
reframing negative thinking patterns.
A patient with intractable dyspnea at the end of life has not experienced any relief with
traditional interventions. Which of the following should the nurse next consider?
a. informing the patient that there is nothing left to give them
b. calling anesthesia to intubate the patient
c. asking the treating physician to increase the doses of all the patient's medications
d. discussing the initiating of palliative sedation with the interprofessional team -
Answer-d. discussing the initiating of palliative sedation with the interprofessional team
When therapies such as IV opioids, oxygen, diuretics, and benzodiazepines fail to
improve intractable dyspnea, palliative sedation could be considered in end-of-life care
Which of the following best represents the psychological component of a
comprehensive pain assessment?
a. the aggravating factors of the experienced pain
b. the meaning of pain to the patient and family
,the influence of religion on coping with pain
d. the economic impact of the pain and its treatment - Answer-b. the meaning of pain to
the patient and family
The meaning of pain to the patient and family is an example of the psychosocial
component of the comprehensive pain assessment.
A cancer education program for adults with low-literacy levels should include which of
the following?
a. frequent use of scored quizzes on new material
b. cartoon-type illustrations to explain concepts
c. multiple forms of the same message and repetition
d. medical terms so people become familiar with these words - Answer-c. multiple forms
of the same mesage and repetition
Repetition of concepts and using multiple ways to convey a message is recommended,
including the use of pictures and demonstrations.
One week after receiving chemotherapy, a patient is afebrile with generalized oral
erythema, xerostomia, white patches on the soft palate, and a lump-like sensation with
swallowing. Which of the following orders should the nurse anticipate?
a. allopurinol mouthwash
b. amoxicillin
c. panendoscopy
d. fluconazole - Answer-d. fluconazole
Oral candida presents with redness and a "cottage cheese" appearance. Antifungal
medications are used to treat oral candidiasis.
Hormone therapy is effective for which two types of cancer?
a. breast and prostate
b. liver and chronic myeloid leukemia
c. lymphoma and gallbladder
d. sarcoma and small cell lung - Answer-a. breast and prostate
Hormone therapy has been successfully used to treat breast and prostate cancers.
Which of the following is the best intervention to increase a patient's adherence to
taking oral chemotherapy at home?
a. instructing the patient to double the next dose if a dose is missed
b. having the patient pick up a refill at the next appointment if the supply runs out
c. calling the patient periodically to monitor for side effects and ask questions.
d. telling the patient to take over-the-counter medications as needed for nausea -
Answer-c. calling the patient periodically to monitor for side effects and ask questions
Follow-up telephone calls are known to help with medication adherence.
The nursing assessment for a patient who received bortezomib should prioritize which
of the following?
a. asking the patient basic orientation questions
b. asking the patient to demonstrate picking up a coin
, c. documenting the patient's fluid intake for the past 24 hours
d. auscultating the patient's lung sounds - Answer-b. asking the patient to demonstrate
picking up a coin
Peripheral neuropathy, both early and late onset, is a common side effect of
bortezomib.
A patient with metastatic breast cancer reports the intermittent periods of severe pain
despite the use of opioid analgesics. In order to further evaluate the patient's pain, the
nurse should first recommend:
a. doubling the current dose of the analgesic
b. obtaining observations from caregivers
c. keeping a pain management diary
d. incorporating integrative modalities - Answer-c. keeping a pain management diary
A pain management diary is a useful tool in assisting a patient to evaluate the
effectiveness of the pain management plan.
Adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer is administrered:
a. before primary therapy to shrink a tumor that is inoperable in its current state
b. to locally treat cancer with minimal harm to normal cells
c. after primary therapy to increase the chance of long-term, disease-free survival
d. at any time during therapy to cure the patient and kill cancer cells - Answer-c. after
primary therapy to increase the chance of long-term disease-free survival
The goal of adjuvant therapy is to target minimal, residual disease after definitive
treatment for patients at high risk for recurrence.
A patient with end-stage pancreatic cancer reports an inability to concentrate and sleep,
mood swings, and a sense of helplessness. The nurse best responds by:
a. facilitating a referral to palliative care for additional support
b. offering to take care of the patient's pets following the patient's death
c. requesting an assignment change to avoid feeling overburdened
d. asking the physician to initiate a nightly melatonin supplement - Answer-a. facilitating
a referral to palliative care for additional support
The nurse can offer palliative care services to provide emotional support, interventions
and guidance as related to the patient's distress and depression.
A patient with lung cancer will be discharged home after receiving etoposide and
cisplatin. Discharge instructions should include what information?
a. hiccups that develop should be reported immediately to the physician
b. a fever should be reported immediately to the physician
c. ringing in the ears is a side effect of etoposide and will improve in a few days
d. observe urine carefully for the next two days for blood and immediately report its
presence. - Answer-b. a fever should be reported immediately to the physician
Patient teaching after receiving chemotherapy includes follow-up care and symptom
management. The risks and symptoms of infection are most important.
with Correct Answers
What is the primary purpose for providing interprofessional oncology care?
a. delivering cost-effective services
b. standardizing patient communication
c. improving patient outcomes
d. meeting regulatory standards - Answer-c. improving patient outcomes
Quality of practice includes the oncology nurse participating in interprofessional teams
to address outcomes and enhance factors that promote safe and effective patient
outcomes.
What is the shortest phase of the cell cycle?
a. synthesis
b. gap 2
c. mitosis
d. gap 1 - Answer-c. mitosis
Mitosis is the shortest phase of the cell's life cycle.
A patient with cancer states "What is the point of living if I have cancer? I am going to
die anyway. I should just sit at home." Which of the following statements made by the
nurse offers the most therapeutic approach?
a. "let's explore some ways you can engage and enjoy life"
b. "a pessimistic attitude puts you at risk for depression. Are you depressed?"
c. "You sound anxious. Make sure to discuss this with your physician"
d. "I will refer you to the social worker to talk through your thoughts" - Answer-A. "let's
explore some ways you can engage and enjoy life"
A patient experiencing helplessness and possibly depression may benefit from gently
reframing negative thinking patterns.
A patient with intractable dyspnea at the end of life has not experienced any relief with
traditional interventions. Which of the following should the nurse next consider?
a. informing the patient that there is nothing left to give them
b. calling anesthesia to intubate the patient
c. asking the treating physician to increase the doses of all the patient's medications
d. discussing the initiating of palliative sedation with the interprofessional team -
Answer-d. discussing the initiating of palliative sedation with the interprofessional team
When therapies such as IV opioids, oxygen, diuretics, and benzodiazepines fail to
improve intractable dyspnea, palliative sedation could be considered in end-of-life care
Which of the following best represents the psychological component of a
comprehensive pain assessment?
a. the aggravating factors of the experienced pain
b. the meaning of pain to the patient and family
,the influence of religion on coping with pain
d. the economic impact of the pain and its treatment - Answer-b. the meaning of pain to
the patient and family
The meaning of pain to the patient and family is an example of the psychosocial
component of the comprehensive pain assessment.
A cancer education program for adults with low-literacy levels should include which of
the following?
a. frequent use of scored quizzes on new material
b. cartoon-type illustrations to explain concepts
c. multiple forms of the same message and repetition
d. medical terms so people become familiar with these words - Answer-c. multiple forms
of the same mesage and repetition
Repetition of concepts and using multiple ways to convey a message is recommended,
including the use of pictures and demonstrations.
One week after receiving chemotherapy, a patient is afebrile with generalized oral
erythema, xerostomia, white patches on the soft palate, and a lump-like sensation with
swallowing. Which of the following orders should the nurse anticipate?
a. allopurinol mouthwash
b. amoxicillin
c. panendoscopy
d. fluconazole - Answer-d. fluconazole
Oral candida presents with redness and a "cottage cheese" appearance. Antifungal
medications are used to treat oral candidiasis.
Hormone therapy is effective for which two types of cancer?
a. breast and prostate
b. liver and chronic myeloid leukemia
c. lymphoma and gallbladder
d. sarcoma and small cell lung - Answer-a. breast and prostate
Hormone therapy has been successfully used to treat breast and prostate cancers.
Which of the following is the best intervention to increase a patient's adherence to
taking oral chemotherapy at home?
a. instructing the patient to double the next dose if a dose is missed
b. having the patient pick up a refill at the next appointment if the supply runs out
c. calling the patient periodically to monitor for side effects and ask questions.
d. telling the patient to take over-the-counter medications as needed for nausea -
Answer-c. calling the patient periodically to monitor for side effects and ask questions
Follow-up telephone calls are known to help with medication adherence.
The nursing assessment for a patient who received bortezomib should prioritize which
of the following?
a. asking the patient basic orientation questions
b. asking the patient to demonstrate picking up a coin
, c. documenting the patient's fluid intake for the past 24 hours
d. auscultating the patient's lung sounds - Answer-b. asking the patient to demonstrate
picking up a coin
Peripheral neuropathy, both early and late onset, is a common side effect of
bortezomib.
A patient with metastatic breast cancer reports the intermittent periods of severe pain
despite the use of opioid analgesics. In order to further evaluate the patient's pain, the
nurse should first recommend:
a. doubling the current dose of the analgesic
b. obtaining observations from caregivers
c. keeping a pain management diary
d. incorporating integrative modalities - Answer-c. keeping a pain management diary
A pain management diary is a useful tool in assisting a patient to evaluate the
effectiveness of the pain management plan.
Adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer is administrered:
a. before primary therapy to shrink a tumor that is inoperable in its current state
b. to locally treat cancer with minimal harm to normal cells
c. after primary therapy to increase the chance of long-term, disease-free survival
d. at any time during therapy to cure the patient and kill cancer cells - Answer-c. after
primary therapy to increase the chance of long-term disease-free survival
The goal of adjuvant therapy is to target minimal, residual disease after definitive
treatment for patients at high risk for recurrence.
A patient with end-stage pancreatic cancer reports an inability to concentrate and sleep,
mood swings, and a sense of helplessness. The nurse best responds by:
a. facilitating a referral to palliative care for additional support
b. offering to take care of the patient's pets following the patient's death
c. requesting an assignment change to avoid feeling overburdened
d. asking the physician to initiate a nightly melatonin supplement - Answer-a. facilitating
a referral to palliative care for additional support
The nurse can offer palliative care services to provide emotional support, interventions
and guidance as related to the patient's distress and depression.
A patient with lung cancer will be discharged home after receiving etoposide and
cisplatin. Discharge instructions should include what information?
a. hiccups that develop should be reported immediately to the physician
b. a fever should be reported immediately to the physician
c. ringing in the ears is a side effect of etoposide and will improve in a few days
d. observe urine carefully for the next two days for blood and immediately report its
presence. - Answer-b. a fever should be reported immediately to the physician
Patient teaching after receiving chemotherapy includes follow-up care and symptom
management. The risks and symptoms of infection are most important.
