Miami Dade College
1 MAXE · 2CDM
★ ★
MDC Medical Campus — School of Nursing
EST. 1960
THE COLLEGE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
MDC2 — Examination 1
O N CO LO G Y · F LU I D & E L E CT R O LYT E S · E N D - O F - L I F E C A R E · O N CO LO G I C A L
EMERGENCIES
INSTITUTION Miami Dade College COURSE CODE MDC2
PROGRAM Associate of Science in Nursing — ACADEMIC YEAR
ADN
EXAM TITLE MDC2 Examination 1 — COURSE TITLE Med-Surg Nursing II
Comprehensive
TOTAL QUESTIONS 100 Questions FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice question.
▸ Content covers oncology (benign/malignant cells, cancer development, classification, treatment), fluid
and electrolytes, end-of-life care, and oncological emergencies.
▸ Electrolyte reference ranges are provided within rationales for clinical decision-making.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question for board review purposes.
▸ All data reflects current evidence-based nursing practice.
, COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION Questions 1 – 100
1. What is the definition of benign cells?
A. Cancerous cells that invade and destroy normal tissue
B. Normal cells growing in the wrong place or at the wrong time
C. Cells that have metastasized from a primary site
D. Cells with abnormal chromosomes and rapid division
CORRECT ANSWER B — Normal cells growing in the wrong place or at the wrong time.
RATIONALE Benign cells are essentially normal cells that are growing in an abnormal location
or at an abnormal time. They are not cancerous and do not invade surrounding
tissues or metastasize. They maintain normal cellular characteristics including
tight adherence, specific morphology, and orderly growth patterns.
2. Which of the following is a feature of benign cells?
A. Loose adherence and rapid migration
B. Large nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio
C. Tight adherence and small nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio
D. Anaplasia and loss of differentiated function
CORRECT ANSWER C — Tight adherence and small nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio.
RATIONALE Benign cells are characterized by tight adherence (due to fibronectin production),
small nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio similar to normal cells, specific differentiated
functions, orderly growth, no migration, and normal chromosomes (euploidy).
They are harmless and usually do not require intervention.
,3. Which of the following is an example of a benign cell growth?
A. Leukemia
B. Skin tag
C. Melanoma
D. Lymphoma
CORRECT ANSWER B — Skin tag.
RATIONALE Benign cell growths include skin tags, moles, nasal polyps, uterine fibroids, and
endometriosis. These are normal cells growing inappropriately but harmlessly —
they do not invade or metastasize. Leukemia, melanoma, and lymphoma are all
malignant (cancerous) conditions.
4. What defines malignant cells?
A. Normal cells with tight adherence and orderly growth
B. Cells that indicate cancer, can be harmful to normal body tissues, and may result in death
C. Cells that remain encapsulated and do not spread
D. Tissue that has been surgically removed for biopsy
CORRECT ANSWER B — Malignant cells indicate cancer, can be harmful to normal body tissues,
and may result in death.
RATIONALE Malignant cells are cancerous — they invade and destroy surrounding normal
tissues, have the ability to metastasize, and if uncontrolled lead to death. Key
features include a large nucleus, loose adherence, loss of contact inhibition, rapid
continuous division, abnormal chromosomes (aneuploidy), and loss of cellular
regulation.
, 5. The nurse is teaching a patient about the seven warning signs of cancer using the
acronym CAUTION. Which sign corresponds to the letter "C"?
A. Cough that produces sputum
B. Change in bowel or bladder patterns
C. Chest pain with exertion
D. Chronic fatigue
CORRECT ANSWER B — Change in bowel or bladder patterns.
RATIONALE The CAUTION acronym for cancer warning signs: C = Change in bowel or bladder
patterns, A = A sore that doesn't heal, U = Unusual bleeding or discharge, T =
Thickening or lump on breast or elsewhere, I = Indigestion or difficulty
swallowing, O = Obvious change in wart or mole, N = Nagging cough or
hoarseness.
6. What are the four stages of malignancy development in correct order?
A. Metastasis, Progression, Promotion, Initiation
B. Initiation, Promotion, Progression, Metastasis
C. Promotion, Initiation, Metastasis, Progression
D. Progression, Metastasis, Initiation, Promotion
CORRECT ANSWER B — Initiation, Promotion, Progression, Metastasis.
RATIONALE Cancer development follows four stages: (1) Initiation — normal cells are
irreversibly damaged by a carcinogen; (2) Promotion — repeated exposure
enhances growth of malignant cells; (3) Progression — increased production of
malignant cells; (4) Metastasis — cells move from the primary site to other parts of
the body.
1 MAXE · 2CDM
★ ★
MDC Medical Campus — School of Nursing
EST. 1960
THE COLLEGE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
MDC2 — Examination 1
O N CO LO G Y · F LU I D & E L E CT R O LYT E S · E N D - O F - L I F E C A R E · O N CO LO G I C A L
EMERGENCIES
INSTITUTION Miami Dade College COURSE CODE MDC2
PROGRAM Associate of Science in Nursing — ACADEMIC YEAR
ADN
EXAM TITLE MDC2 Examination 1 — COURSE TITLE Med-Surg Nursing II
Comprehensive
TOTAL QUESTIONS 100 Questions FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice question.
▸ Content covers oncology (benign/malignant cells, cancer development, classification, treatment), fluid
and electrolytes, end-of-life care, and oncological emergencies.
▸ Electrolyte reference ranges are provided within rationales for clinical decision-making.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question for board review purposes.
▸ All data reflects current evidence-based nursing practice.
, COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION Questions 1 – 100
1. What is the definition of benign cells?
A. Cancerous cells that invade and destroy normal tissue
B. Normal cells growing in the wrong place or at the wrong time
C. Cells that have metastasized from a primary site
D. Cells with abnormal chromosomes and rapid division
CORRECT ANSWER B — Normal cells growing in the wrong place or at the wrong time.
RATIONALE Benign cells are essentially normal cells that are growing in an abnormal location
or at an abnormal time. They are not cancerous and do not invade surrounding
tissues or metastasize. They maintain normal cellular characteristics including
tight adherence, specific morphology, and orderly growth patterns.
2. Which of the following is a feature of benign cells?
A. Loose adherence and rapid migration
B. Large nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio
C. Tight adherence and small nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio
D. Anaplasia and loss of differentiated function
CORRECT ANSWER C — Tight adherence and small nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio.
RATIONALE Benign cells are characterized by tight adherence (due to fibronectin production),
small nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio similar to normal cells, specific differentiated
functions, orderly growth, no migration, and normal chromosomes (euploidy).
They are harmless and usually do not require intervention.
,3. Which of the following is an example of a benign cell growth?
A. Leukemia
B. Skin tag
C. Melanoma
D. Lymphoma
CORRECT ANSWER B — Skin tag.
RATIONALE Benign cell growths include skin tags, moles, nasal polyps, uterine fibroids, and
endometriosis. These are normal cells growing inappropriately but harmlessly —
they do not invade or metastasize. Leukemia, melanoma, and lymphoma are all
malignant (cancerous) conditions.
4. What defines malignant cells?
A. Normal cells with tight adherence and orderly growth
B. Cells that indicate cancer, can be harmful to normal body tissues, and may result in death
C. Cells that remain encapsulated and do not spread
D. Tissue that has been surgically removed for biopsy
CORRECT ANSWER B — Malignant cells indicate cancer, can be harmful to normal body tissues,
and may result in death.
RATIONALE Malignant cells are cancerous — they invade and destroy surrounding normal
tissues, have the ability to metastasize, and if uncontrolled lead to death. Key
features include a large nucleus, loose adherence, loss of contact inhibition, rapid
continuous division, abnormal chromosomes (aneuploidy), and loss of cellular
regulation.
, 5. The nurse is teaching a patient about the seven warning signs of cancer using the
acronym CAUTION. Which sign corresponds to the letter "C"?
A. Cough that produces sputum
B. Change in bowel or bladder patterns
C. Chest pain with exertion
D. Chronic fatigue
CORRECT ANSWER B — Change in bowel or bladder patterns.
RATIONALE The CAUTION acronym for cancer warning signs: C = Change in bowel or bladder
patterns, A = A sore that doesn't heal, U = Unusual bleeding or discharge, T =
Thickening or lump on breast or elsewhere, I = Indigestion or difficulty
swallowing, O = Obvious change in wart or mole, N = Nagging cough or
hoarseness.
6. What are the four stages of malignancy development in correct order?
A. Metastasis, Progression, Promotion, Initiation
B. Initiation, Promotion, Progression, Metastasis
C. Promotion, Initiation, Metastasis, Progression
D. Progression, Metastasis, Initiation, Promotion
CORRECT ANSWER B — Initiation, Promotion, Progression, Metastasis.
RATIONALE Cancer development follows four stages: (1) Initiation — normal cells are
irreversibly damaged by a carcinogen; (2) Promotion — repeated exposure
enhances growth of malignant cells; (3) Progression — increased production of
malignant cells; (4) Metastasis — cells move from the primary site to other parts of
the body.
