Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is assessing a client with leukemia who is receiving chemotherapy. Which of the following findings would be of most concern?

• A. Alopecia
• B. Fatigue
• C. Nausea and vomiting
• D. Mouth sores

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'Mouth sores.' Mouth sores (stomatitis) are a common and potentially serious side effect of chemotherapy. They can lead to difficulty eating, increased risk of infection, and overall decreased quality of life for the client. While alopecia, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting are also common side effects of chemotherapy, they are generally manageable and do not pose the same level of immediate concern as the development of mouth sores in a client undergoing chemotherapy.

2. The nurse on a bone marrow transplant unit is caring for a patient with cancer who is preparing for HSCT. What is a priority nursing diagnosis for this patient?

• A. Fatigue related to altered metabolic processes
• B. Altered nutrition: less than body requirements related to anorexia
• C. Risk for infection related to altered immunologic response
• D. Body image disturbance related to weight loss and anorexia

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Patients preparing for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) undergo intensive chemotherapy and/or radiation, which significantly suppresses their immune system. This immunosuppression leads to a heightened risk for infection, making it the most critical nursing diagnosis for these patients. As the body’s ability to fight off pathogens is compromised, close monitoring and interventions aimed at preventing infections are essential for their safety and recovery.

3. A clinic nurse is working with a patient who has a long-standing diagnosis of polycythemia vera. How can the nurse best gauge the course of the patient's disease?

• A. Document the color of the patient's palms and face during each visit.
• B. Follow the patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate over time.
• C. Document the patient's response to erythropoietin injections.
• D. Follow the trends of the patient's hematocrit.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The course of polycythemia vera can be best ascertained by monitoring the patient's hematocrit, which should remain below 45%. Hematocrit levels are a key indicator in assessing the progression of the disease. Choices A, B, and C are not the most appropriate methods for gauging the course of polycythemia vera. Monitoring the color of the patient's palms and face, or their response to erythropoietin injections, may not provide an accurate reflection of the disease's progression. Similarly, while erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be affected in polycythemia vera, it is not the primary marker for monitoring the disease's course.

4. Which of the following descriptions of chemotherapy is correct?

• A. Chemotherapy is externally given through high energy waves
• B. Chemotherapy is known to have fatigue as a common side effect
• C. Chemotherapy spreads throughout the body
• D. Chemotherapy attacks cancer cells only

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Chemotherapy drugs are typically administered systemically, meaning they circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream. This allows them to target cancer cells that may have spread beyond the original tumor site, making chemotherapy an effective treatment for cancers that are metastatic (have spread to other parts of the body). However, because chemotherapy is not selective, it can also affect healthy cells that divide rapidly, leading to a range of side effects.

5. Which of the following is a correct statement by the nurse to a patient under radiation therapy?

• A. Brachytherapy can be administered by a pregnant nurse
• B. Teletherapy makes the patient radioactive
• C. Brachytherapy is an internal radiation therapy
• D. Teletherapy requires proper disposal of feces since feces is not a source of radiation

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct statement is that Brachytherapy is an internal radiation therapy. Brachytherapy involves placing radioactive sources inside or near the tumor, delivering a high radiation dose to the targeted area while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. Choices A and B are incorrect because pregnant nurses should not administer radiation therapy and brachytherapy does not make the patient radioactive. Choice D is incorrect as feces is not a source of radiation in teletherapy, and it does not require special disposal.

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