The following sample questions are representative of actual test content, difficulty level, and question format. The answer key follows the set of questions.

Directions: Each question or incomplete statement below is followed by four suggested answers or completions. Select the one that is best in each case.

1. In a patient with bone metastases, which of the following symptoms should alert the nurse to the presence of hypercalcemia?
   1. Muscle Cramps
   2. Edema
   3. Dyspnea
   4. Polyuria
      
      
2. Successful management of diarrhea induced by treatments that alter mucosa and bowel motility should include medication to:
   1. suppress the inflammatory response.
   2. alter the absorption of nutrients from the bowel.
   3. stimulate the absorption of excess fluid from the bowel.
   4. reduce peristalsis or soothe the bowel lining.
      
      
3. Liver metastasis most often results from which of the following modes of metastatic spread?
   1. Hematogenic
   2. Lymphogenic
   3. Contact
   4. Transcavitary seeding
      
      
4. Which of the following statements about the preparation of antineoplastic agents is true?
   1. Sterile technique is not required in the preparation of IV antineoplastics because of their lethal effect on tumor cells.
   2. Intravenous antineoplastics are best prepared and dispensed by the same procedures as any other IV admixture.
   3. Only specially trained physicians, nurses, and pharmacists should prepare antineoplastics for administration.
   4. In reconstituting antineoplastics, positive pressure must be used to inject the diluent into the vial.
      
      
5. On the first postoperative day following a modified radical mastectomy, a patient should be encouraged to:
   1. keep her affected arm in a sling and avoid all exercise.
   2. perform exercises with wrist and elbow flexion and extension.
   3. perform passive range-of-motion exercises of the elbow and shoulder.
   4. perform active range-of-motion exercises of the elbow and shoulder.
      
      
6. A patient who is to receive a radioactive implant asks why her room is at the far end of the hall. The nurse's best response would be which of the following?
   1. "Patients requiring the least amount of physical care are in rooms farthest from the nurses' station."
   2. "An end room provides the most sunlight and least distraction during your stay in the hospital."
   3. "This location provides the least radiation exposure to hospital staff and other patients."
   4. "This location protects those nurses who may be pregnant and working in this unit."
      
      
7. A nurse can best demonstrate the philosophy of patient advocacy by doing which of the following?
   1. Determining the priorities for the patient's plan of care
   2. Supporting the patient's right to make decisions about care
   3. Sharing individual values with the patient in developing the plan of care
   4. Explaining the physician's plans to the patient and family
      
      
8. A 65-year-old patient has had a surgical resection for adenocarcinoma of the colon. As a result, he has a permanent colostomy located proximally in his ascending colon, which he refuses to look at. The nurse who is caring for him on his first postoperative day should be concerned primarily with his:
   1. status regarding dehydration and hypokalemia.
   2. total fat intake.
   3. knowledge of how to care for the colostomy.
   4. refusal to look at the colostomy.
      
      
9. Which of the following is a voluntary public service organization that would be most likely to provide transportation for a person with cancer who needs daily radiation treatments?
   1. American Automobile Association
   2. American Red Cross
   3. National Hospice Organization
   4. American Cancer Society
      
      
10. Assessment for suspected bladder cancer should include evaluation for:
    1. hematuria.
    2. abdominal distention.
    3. flank pain.
    4. fever.
       
       
11. A patient who has just completed treatment for cancer wants to return to her job in the aerospace industry. Her employer tells her that she cannot have her job back because she has had cancer. Her employer's action is violating which of the following?
    1. The Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973
    2. The National Cancer Act of 1971
    3. Current American Cancer Society guidelines
    4. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines
       
       
12. A patient had a radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy yesterday. She asked the reason for her suprapubic catheter. The nurse's best response is which of the following?
    1. "Your bladder may not work for a while because of irritation of the nerves."
    2. "The tube is for collecting the urine so you won't be bothered with urinating."
    3. "There are many nerves there and they may have been injured during the surgery. The tube will facilitate draining of urine if any damage occurred."
    4. "Your bladder needs to rest for a while after surgery."
       
       

Answer Key