Nursing Elites

1. Four clients are receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Which of these four clients would the nurse assess first?

• A. Dry, itchy, peeling skin.
• B. Serum calcium of 9.2 mg/dL (2.3 mmol/L).
• C. Serum potassium of 2.8 mEq/L (2.8 mmol/L).
• D. Weight gain of 0.5 lb (1.1 kg) in 1 day.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L is critically low and requires immediate intervention.

2. A nurse enters the room of a patient with bladder cancer. The patient asks the nurse about the actions of chemotherapeutic drugs. Which of the following statements by the nurse is correct?

• A. Chemotherapeutic drugs will kill all of your cancer cells
• B. Chemotherapeutic medications are attracted mostly to slowly dividing cells
• C. Chemotherapy can cure cancer
• D. Chemotherapy is specifically destroying cancer cells

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Chemotherapy drugs are designed to target and destroy rapidly dividing cells, which include cancer cells. Cancer cells often divide more quickly than normal cells, and chemotherapeutic agents exploit this characteristic to inhibit their growth and promote cell death. While chemotherapy can also affect other rapidly dividing normal cells (such as those in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and hair follicles), the primary goal is to target cancerous cells.

3. A patient who is undergoing consolidation therapy for the treatment of leukemia has been experiencing debilitating fatigue. How can the nurse best meet this patients needs for physical activity?

• A. Teach the patient about the risks of immobility and the benefits of exercise.
• B. Assist the patient to a chair during awake times, as tolerated.
• C. Collaborate with the physical therapist to arrange for stair exercises.
• D. Teach the patient to perform deep breathing and coughing exercises.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: For patients undergoing consolidation therapy for leukemia, severe fatigue is a common side effect of treatment due to factors such as anemia, decreased nutritional intake, and the body’s response to chemotherapy. While exercise is beneficial, the patient's fatigue may limit their ability to engage in strenuous activity. Assisting the patient to sit in a chair during awake times is a practical way to encourage some physical activity while respecting their fatigue levels. This intervention helps prevent complications associated with immobility, such as muscle atrophy and venous stasis, without overwhelming the patient. It allows the patient to engage in light activity that is manageable and promotes recovery.

4. The nurse is developing a plan of care for the client with multiple myeloma and includes which priority intervention in the plan?

• A. Encouraging fluids
• B. Providing frequent oral care
• C. Coughing and deep breathing
• D. Monitoring the red blood cell count

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Encouraging fluids. In a client with multiple myeloma, encouraging fluids is a priority intervention to prevent kidney damage from high calcium levels. Adequate hydration helps maintain renal function and prevents complications. Providing frequent oral care (Choice B) is essential for clients at risk of mucositis or oral infections, such as those undergoing chemotherapy. Coughing and deep breathing exercises (Choice C) are commonly used for clients at risk of respiratory complications, like postoperative patients. Monitoring the red blood cell count (Choice D) is important for conditions like anemia but is not the priority in a client with multiple myeloma, where fluid management is crucial.

5. A nurse working with oncology clients knows that an age-related decrease in which function increases the older client’s susceptibility to infection during chemotherapy?

• A. Immune function.
• B. Kidney function.
• C. Liver function.
• D. Cardiac function.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: As people age, the immune system becomes less efficient, a phenomenon known as immunosenescence. This decline in immune function includes reduced production of immune cells (such as T cells and B cells) and diminished responses to infections. During chemotherapy, which further suppresses the immune system, older clients are at a significantly higher risk of developing infections due to this age-related decrease in immune function. This is especially concerning because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, which include immune cells, making it even harder for the body to fight off infections.

Similar Questions