Hinkle 30 Flashcards
- An oncology nurse is providing health education for a client who has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. What should the nurse explain about commonalities between all of the different subtypes of leukemia?
A. The different leukemias all involve unregulated proliferation of white blood cells.
B. The different leukemias all have unregulated proliferation of red blood cells and decreased bone marrow function.
C. The different leukemias all result in a decrease in the production of white blood cells.
D. The different leukemias all involve the development of cancer in the lymphatic system.
ANS: A
Rationale: Leukemia commonly involves unregulated proliferation of white blood cells. Decreased production of red blood cells is associated with anemias. Decreased
production of white blood cells is associated with leukopenia. The leukemias are not characterized by their involvement with the lymphatic system.
- A nurse is caring for a client who has a diagnosis of acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). Assessment of which factor most directly addresses the most common cause of death among clients with leukemia?
A. Infection status
B. Nutritional status
C. Electrolyte levels
D. Liver function
ANS: A
Rationale: Because of the lack of mature and normal granulocytes that help fight infection, clients with leukemia are prone to infection. In clients with AML, death typically
occurs from infection or bleeding. Symptoms of AML include weight loss, fever, night sweats, and fatigue, which would guide the nurse to monitor the client’s nutrition and electrolytes. Gastrointestinal problems (nausea and vomiting) and electrolyte imbalances (hyperkalemia and hypocalcemia) may result from chemotherapy use. The liver is responsible for metabolism and metabolic detoxification, so monitoring liver function is important for the client who is receiving chemotherapy. These problems may
contribute to and/or result in death but are not the most common cause.
- An oncology nurse is caring for a client with multiple myeloma who is experiencing bone destruction. When reviewing the client’s most recent blood tests, the nurse should anticipate which imbalance?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hyperproteinemia
C. Elevated serum viscosity
D. Elevated red blood count (RBC)
ANS: A
Rationale: Hypercalcemia may result when bone destruction occurs due to the disease process. Elevated serum viscosity occurs because plasma cells excrete excess immunoglobulin but would not result from bone destruction. The RBC count will decrease, not increase, resulting in anemia due to the abnormal protein produced from the malignant cells. Hyperproteinemia is defined as high protein in the blood and is commonly seen in clients with dehydration but would not result from bone destruction.
- A nurse is planning the care of a client who has been admitted to the medical unit with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. In the client’s care plan, the nurse has identified a diagnosis of Risk for Injury, which should be attributed to which factor?
A. Labyrinthitis
B. Left ventricular hypertrophy
C. Decreased bone density
D. Hypercoagulation
ANS: C
Rationale: Clients with multiple myeloma are at risk for pathologic bone fractures secondary to diffuse osteoporosis (decreased bone density) and osteolytic lesions. Labyrinthitis is uncharacteristic, and clients do not normally experience hypercoagulation or cardiac hypertrophy as a result of multiple myeloma.
- A client with a new diagnosis of leukemia is about to start treatment and expresses fear and anxiety with the prognosis. Which action is the nurse’s most appropriate?
A. Communicate to the health care provider the need to provide more information to the client and family.
B. Assess how much information is desired from the client in terms of illness, treatment, and complications.
C. Offer to call pastoral services and review hospice and/or palliative care so the client can have a quiet, dignified death.
D. Encourage the client to call their family and discuss immediate role restructuring in both their family and professional life.
ANS: B
Rationale: As with any client exhibiting anxiety and fear about a prognosis, listening should come first in order to assess how much information the client wants to have regarding the illness, treatment and potential complications. This is an ongoing
assessment, since needs and interest in information changes throughout the course of treatment. Managing a client’s care is a team effort, so involving the primary care provider and family is important, but not the nurse’s priority action. Offering pastoral services and role restructuring has its place in treatment but should be discussed after an assessment of the client’s needs. A discussion about palliative care and hospice is not appropriate at this time. Offering realistic hope is important and only after all treatment
options are exhausted, or the client is diagnosed as terminal, should palliative and/or hospice care be considered.
- A nurse is caring for a client with acute myeloid leukemia who is preparing to undergo induction therapy. In preparing a plan of care for this client, the nurse should assign the highest priority to which nursing diagnosis?
A. Activity intolerance
B. Risk for infection
C. Acute confusion
D. Risk for spiritual distress
ANS: B
Rationale: Induction therapy places the client at risk for infection, thus this is the priority nursing diagnosis. During the time of induction therapy, the client is very ill, with bacterial, fungal, and occasional viral infections; bleeding and severe mucositis, which
causes diarrhea; and marked decline in the ability to maintain adequate nutrition. Supportive care consists of administering blood products and promptly treating infections. Immobility, confusion, and spiritual distress are possible, but infection is the client’s most acute physiologic threat.
- A nurse is providing care to a client with multiple myeloma with reports of nausea, diarrhea, alopecia, and red urine. The client’s recent interventions include electrocardiogram (ECG), multigated acquisition scan (MUGA), and a central line venous access placed on the right chest wall. Which medication is the client most likely receiving?
A. Dexamethasone
B. Lenalidomide
C. Doxorubicin
D. Etoposide
ANS: C
Rationale: Doxorubicin is a chemotherapeutic drug and typically part of a combination regimen. Side effects of this medication include nausea, vomiting, alopecia (hair loss),
and orange or red urine. Red urine is not listed as a side effect on any other of the medications listed. Doxorubicin can have a cardiotoxic effect (cardiomyopathy & arrhythmias), so ECG and MUGA scans (evaluate pumping function of the ventricles)
are done before and periodically throughout treatment. This drug is a vesicant (causes blistering) and can result in tissue necrosis if the medication leaks into the tissues
surrounding a vein due to an infiltrate. A central line is placed to avoid that complication. Etoposide and lenalidomide are both chemotherapy drugs without the typical adverse
effect of cardiotoxicity Etoposide is an irritant with a low vesicant potential.
Dexamethasone is a steroid that does not have the side effect of alopecia nor requires central venous access.
- A 35-year-old client is admitted to the hospital reporting severe headaches, vomiting, and testicular pain. The client’s blood work shows reduced numbers of platelets,
leukocytes, and erythrocytes, with a high proportion of immature cells. The nurse caring for this client suspects which diagnosis?
A. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
B. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
C. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
D. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
ANS: D
Rationale: In acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), manifestations of leukemic cell infiltration into other organs are more common than with other forms of leukemia, and include pain from an enlarged liver or spleen, as well as bone pain. The central nervous system is frequently a site for leukemic cells; thus, clients may exhibit headache and vomiting because of meningeal involvement. Other extranodal sites include the testes and breasts. All the listed types of leukemia, depending on severity and stage, can have the same blood work results. The difference is the client’s signs and symptoms, which are
closely associated with ALL. A large number of clients when first diagnosed with any type of leukemia are asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms It is discovered on routine lab work.
- A client with leukemia has developed stomatitis and is experiencing a nutritional
deficit. An oral anesthetic has consequently been prescribed. What health education should the nurse provide to the client?
A. Chew with care to avoid inadvertently biting the tongue.
B. Use the oral anesthetic 1 hour prior to mealtime.
C. Brush teeth before and after eating.
D. Swallow slowly and deliberately.
ANS: A
Rationale: If oral anesthetics are used, the client must be warned to chew with extreme care to avoid inadvertently biting the tongue or buccal mucosa. An oral anesthetic would be metabolized by the time the client eats if it is used 1 hour prior to meals. There is no specific need to warn the client about brushing teeth or swallowing slowly because an oral
anesthetic has been used.
- A client diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia has just been admitted to the oncology unit. When writing this client’s care plan, which potential complication should the nurse address?
A. Pancreatitis
B. Hemorrhage
C. Arteritis
D. Liver dysfunction
ANS: B
Rationale: Complications of AML include bleeding and infection, which are the major causes of death. The risk of bleeding correlates with the level and duration of platelet deficiency. The low platelet count can cause ecchymoses and petechiae. Major hemorrhages also may develop when the platelet count drops to less than 10,000/mm3 The most common bleeding sources include gastrointestinal (GI), pulmonary, vaginal, and intracranial. Pancreatitis, arteritis, and liver dysfunction are generally not complications of leukemia.
- An emergency department nurse is triaging a 77-year-old client who presents with uncharacteristic fatigue as well as back and rib pain. The client denies any recent injuries.
The nurse should recognize the need for this client to be assessed for which health problem?
A. Hodgkin disease
B. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
C. Multiple myeloma
D. Acute thrombocythemia
ANS: C
Rationale: Back pain, which is often a presenting symptom in multiple myeloma, should be closely investigated in older clients. The lymphomas and bleeding disorders do not typically present with the primary symptom of back pain or rib pain.
- A home health nurse is caring for a client with multiple myeloma. What intervention should the nurse prioritize when addressing the client’s severe bone pain?
A. Implementing distraction techniques
B. Educating the client about the effective use of hot and cold packs
C. Teaching the client to use NSAIDs effectively
D. Helping the client manage the opioid analgesic regimen
ANS: D
Rationale: For severe pain resulting from multiple myeloma, opioids are likely necessary. NSAIDs would likely be ineffective and are associated with significant adverse effects. Hot and cold packs as well as distraction would be insufficient for severe pain, though
they may be useful as adjuncts.
- A nurse is caring for a client with Hodgkin lymphoma at the oncology clinic. The nurse should identify what main goal of care?
A. Cure of the disease
B. Enhancing quality of life
C. Controlling symptoms
D. Palliation
ANS: A
Rationale: The goal in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma is cure. Palliation is thus not normally necessary. Quality of life and symptom control are vital, but the overarching goal is the cure of the disease.
- A client with Hodgkin lymphoma is receiving information from the oncology nurse. The client asks the nurse why it is necessary to stop drinking and smoking and stay out
of the sun. Which response by the nurse would be best?
A. “Avoiding these factors can reduce the risk of Reed-Sternberg cells developing.”
B. “These behaviors can reduce the effectiveness of your chemotherapy.”
C. “Engaging in these activities increases your risk of hemorrhage.”
D. “It’s important to reduce other factors that increase the risk of second cancers.”
ANS: D
Rationale: The nurse should encourage clients to reduce other factors that increase the risk of developing second cancers, such as use of tobacco and alcohol and exposure to environmental carcinogens and excessive sunlight. The presence of Reed-Sternberg cells
is the pathologic hallmark and essential diagnostic criterion for Hodgkin lymphoma, so avoiding these behaviors will not reduce the risk of Reed-Sternberg cells developing.
There is no evidence that these behaviors will reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy or increase the risk of hemorrhage, which is not a typical complication of Hodgkin lymphoma.
- A 20-year-old client with no medical history arrives at a walk-in/urgent care clinic reporting swelling on the left side of the neck. On palpation, the lymph nodes on the neck are painless, firm but not hard. What is the next appropriate intervention for this client?
A. Recommend immediate and urgent transfer to the nearest trauma center.
B. Perform diagnostic studies to rule out any infectious origin at a hospital.
C. Refer the client to a primary health care provider for a nonurgent appointment.
D. Complete a computed tomography scan because the client has Hodgkin lymphoma.
ANS: B
Rationale: Although a high suspicion of Hodgkin lymphoma is present, diagnosis is premature prior to ruling out any infectious origin with diagnostic testing. This testing is by excisional node biopsy and usually done at a surgical center or hospital. Transfer is not an urgent manner unless the swelling is impacting the airway. Hodgkin lymphoma usually begins as an enlargement of one or more lymph nodes on one side of the neck. The individual nodes are painless and firm but not hard. It is also more common in males with 2 peaks in age groups. The first peak is between 15-34 and the second is after 60 years of age. Because these findings are consistent with Hodgkin lymphoma, a hospital admission, not a nonurgent appointment, is appropriate. Chest x-ray, computed tomography scan, and positron emission tomography scan are all involved in staging of Hodgkin lymphoma.