ANCC Oncology Nursing Certification 2

Question 1

Which grading scale is most commonly used to classify chemotherapy-related adverse effects in oncology clinical practice?

Accepted Answer

NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)

Answer

The NCI CTCAE is the standardized system for grading the severity of adverse events in oncology clinical trials and practice.

Question 2

A patient on radiation therapy to the head and neck develops severe mucositis. Which nursing intervention takes priority?

Accepted Answer

Assess pain and provide oral care with appropriate analgesics

Answer

Pain assessment and gentle oral care with analgesics are priority interventions to prevent infection and maintain comfort with mucositis.

Question 3

Which patient receiving chemotherapy is at highest risk for developing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)?

Accepted Answer

A patient receiving paclitaxel or vincristine

Answer

Taxanes (paclitaxel) and vinca alkaloids (vincristine) are the agents most associated with dose-limiting peripheral neuropathy.

Question 4

A breast cancer patient completes 5 years of tamoxifen therapy. What is the most serious long-term adverse effect the nurse should educate her about?

Accepted Answer

Endometrial cancer and thromboembolic events

Answer

Tamoxifen's estrogenic activity in the uterus increases risk of endometrial cancer, and it also increases venous thromboembolism risk.

Question 5

Which blood test is the primary tumor marker used to monitor treatment response in prostate cancer?

Accepted Answer

PSA (prostate-specific antigen)

Answer

PSA is the primary serum biomarker for prostate cancer diagnosis, staging, and monitoring treatment response.

ANCC - American Nurses Credentialing Center Practice Test