ATI RN Medical-Surgical: Cancer & Oncology |
2025/2026 Latest Edition
Real Exam Questions and Verified Answers | 100% Correct | Nursing Exams
Introduction
This resource contains 70 verified questions and correct answers from the most recent
2025/2026 ATI RN Medical-Surgical: Cancer & Oncology exam. Designed to reflect
current clinical testing standards, it helps nursing students strengthen their knowledge of
oncologic nursing care, supporting success on the NCLEX and in clinical settings.
Answer Format
All correct answers are clearly marked in bold and green to support fast and effective
review.
ATI RN Medical-Surgical: Cancer & Oncology
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client with chemotherapy-induced nausea. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Persistent vomiting with dehydration
C. Occasional nausea
D. Decreased appetite
Rationale: Persistent vomiting with dehydration indicates a severe complication requiring
immediate intervention to prevent electrolyte imbalances and hypovolemia. Fatigue,
occasional nausea, and decreased appetite are less urgent.
Question 2
A client with breast cancer is scheduled for radiation therapy. Which instruction should the
nurse provide to protect the skin?
A. Apply lotion with fragrance to the area
B. Avoid scrubbing and use mild soap
C. Expose the area to sunlight
D. Use adhesive bandages over the site
Rationale: Avoiding scrubbing and using mild soap prevents skin irritation in the radiation
field. Fragranced lotions, sunlight, and adhesive bandages can exacerbate skin damage.
Question 3
A client with leukemia reports fever and chills. Which laboratory value should the nurse
prioritize?
A. Hemoglobin
,B. Absolute neutrophil count
C. Platelet count
D. Serum glucose
Rationale: Absolute neutrophil count assesses infection risk in leukemia patients with fever
and chills, indicating neutropenia. Other values are less critical for infection.
Question 4
A client with lung cancer reports a new cough. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer an antitussive
B. Assess the cough and notify the provider
C. Encourage deep breathing exercises
D. Provide a high-calorie diet
Rationale: Assessing the cough and notifying the provider is the priority, as a new cough
in lung cancer may indicate disease progression or complications. Other interventions may
follow.
Question 5
A client receiving chemotherapy is at risk for thrombocytopenia. Which precaution should
the nurse implement?
A. Encourage frequent nasal blowing
B. Use a soft toothbrush for oral care
C. Allow sharp objects for grooming
D. Promote high-contact sports
Rationale: Using a soft toothbrush reduces bleeding risk in thrombocytopenia. Nasal
blowing, sharp objects, and contact sports increase bleeding risk.
Question 6
A client with colorectal cancer is preparing for surgery. Which preoperative teaching is most
important?
A. Limit fluid intake post-surgery
B. Bowel preparation instructions
C. Avoid all pain medications
D. Resume normal diet immediately
Rationale: Bowel preparation instructions ensure a clean surgical field for colorectal
surgery. Limiting fluids, avoiding pain medications, or resuming a normal diet are incorrect.
Question 7
A client with multiple myeloma reports back pain. Which intervention should the nurse
prioritize?
A. Encourage bed rest indefinitely
B. Assess pain and administer analgesics
, C. Apply ice to the back
D. Restrict all movement
Rationale: Assessing pain and administering analgesics addresses back pain in multiple
myeloma, which may indicate bone involvement. Indefinite bed rest, ice, or restricting
movement is not appropriate.
Question 8
A client with pancreatic cancer reports dark urine and clay-colored stools. Which condition
should the nurse suspect?
A. Hepatitis
B. Bile duct obstruction
C. Renal failure
D. Dehydration
Rationale: Bile duct obstruction in pancreatic cancer causes dark urine and clay-colored
stools due to blocked bilirubin excretion. Hepatitis, renal failure, and dehydration have
different presentations.
Question 9
A client with breast cancer is prescribed anastrozole. Which adverse effect should the nurse
monitor?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Bone loss
C. Weight gain
D. Bradycardia
Rationale: Anastrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, increases the risk of bone loss due to
reduced estrogen levels. Hyperglycemia, weight gain, and bradycardia are not typical.
Question 10
A client with Hodgkin lymphoma reports enlarged lymph nodes. Which diagnostic test is
most specific?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Lymph node biopsy
C. Complete blood count
D. Bone scan
Rationale: Lymph node biopsy confirms Hodgkin lymphoma by identifying Reed-
Sternberg cells. Other tests are supportive but not specific.
Question 11
A nurse is teaching a client about managing chemotherapy-induced fatigue. Which
recommendation is most appropriate?
A. Avoid all physical activity
2025/2026 Latest Edition
Real Exam Questions and Verified Answers | 100% Correct | Nursing Exams
Introduction
This resource contains 70 verified questions and correct answers from the most recent
2025/2026 ATI RN Medical-Surgical: Cancer & Oncology exam. Designed to reflect
current clinical testing standards, it helps nursing students strengthen their knowledge of
oncologic nursing care, supporting success on the NCLEX and in clinical settings.
Answer Format
All correct answers are clearly marked in bold and green to support fast and effective
review.
ATI RN Medical-Surgical: Cancer & Oncology
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client with chemotherapy-induced nausea. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Persistent vomiting with dehydration
C. Occasional nausea
D. Decreased appetite
Rationale: Persistent vomiting with dehydration indicates a severe complication requiring
immediate intervention to prevent electrolyte imbalances and hypovolemia. Fatigue,
occasional nausea, and decreased appetite are less urgent.
Question 2
A client with breast cancer is scheduled for radiation therapy. Which instruction should the
nurse provide to protect the skin?
A. Apply lotion with fragrance to the area
B. Avoid scrubbing and use mild soap
C. Expose the area to sunlight
D. Use adhesive bandages over the site
Rationale: Avoiding scrubbing and using mild soap prevents skin irritation in the radiation
field. Fragranced lotions, sunlight, and adhesive bandages can exacerbate skin damage.
Question 3
A client with leukemia reports fever and chills. Which laboratory value should the nurse
prioritize?
A. Hemoglobin
,B. Absolute neutrophil count
C. Platelet count
D. Serum glucose
Rationale: Absolute neutrophil count assesses infection risk in leukemia patients with fever
and chills, indicating neutropenia. Other values are less critical for infection.
Question 4
A client with lung cancer reports a new cough. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer an antitussive
B. Assess the cough and notify the provider
C. Encourage deep breathing exercises
D. Provide a high-calorie diet
Rationale: Assessing the cough and notifying the provider is the priority, as a new cough
in lung cancer may indicate disease progression or complications. Other interventions may
follow.
Question 5
A client receiving chemotherapy is at risk for thrombocytopenia. Which precaution should
the nurse implement?
A. Encourage frequent nasal blowing
B. Use a soft toothbrush for oral care
C. Allow sharp objects for grooming
D. Promote high-contact sports
Rationale: Using a soft toothbrush reduces bleeding risk in thrombocytopenia. Nasal
blowing, sharp objects, and contact sports increase bleeding risk.
Question 6
A client with colorectal cancer is preparing for surgery. Which preoperative teaching is most
important?
A. Limit fluid intake post-surgery
B. Bowel preparation instructions
C. Avoid all pain medications
D. Resume normal diet immediately
Rationale: Bowel preparation instructions ensure a clean surgical field for colorectal
surgery. Limiting fluids, avoiding pain medications, or resuming a normal diet are incorrect.
Question 7
A client with multiple myeloma reports back pain. Which intervention should the nurse
prioritize?
A. Encourage bed rest indefinitely
B. Assess pain and administer analgesics
, C. Apply ice to the back
D. Restrict all movement
Rationale: Assessing pain and administering analgesics addresses back pain in multiple
myeloma, which may indicate bone involvement. Indefinite bed rest, ice, or restricting
movement is not appropriate.
Question 8
A client with pancreatic cancer reports dark urine and clay-colored stools. Which condition
should the nurse suspect?
A. Hepatitis
B. Bile duct obstruction
C. Renal failure
D. Dehydration
Rationale: Bile duct obstruction in pancreatic cancer causes dark urine and clay-colored
stools due to blocked bilirubin excretion. Hepatitis, renal failure, and dehydration have
different presentations.
Question 9
A client with breast cancer is prescribed anastrozole. Which adverse effect should the nurse
monitor?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Bone loss
C. Weight gain
D. Bradycardia
Rationale: Anastrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, increases the risk of bone loss due to
reduced estrogen levels. Hyperglycemia, weight gain, and bradycardia are not typical.
Question 10
A client with Hodgkin lymphoma reports enlarged lymph nodes. Which diagnostic test is
most specific?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Lymph node biopsy
C. Complete blood count
D. Bone scan
Rationale: Lymph node biopsy confirms Hodgkin lymphoma by identifying Reed-
Sternberg cells. Other tests are supportive but not specific.
Question 11
A nurse is teaching a client about managing chemotherapy-induced fatigue. Which
recommendation is most appropriate?
A. Avoid all physical activity
