Patient Education and Psychosocial Care Flashcards

A patient expresses fear about alopecia from chemotherapy. The most therapeutic nursing response is:

Answer: 'Many patients feel the same way — let's talk about what this means for you and explore options like wigs or scalp cooling.'

Acknowledging the patient's concern and collaborating on solutions (wigs, scalp cooling) is the therapeutic approach that respects emotional impact and patient autonomy.

Which of the following accurately describes anticipatory nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients?

Answer: A conditioned response where nausea occurs before chemotherapy begins, triggered by associated cues

Anticipatory nausea is a classically conditioned response where patients develop nausea before treatment in response to sights, smells, or other cues associated with chemotherapy.

An advance directive (living will) in oncology primarily serves to:

Answer: Document the patient's wishes for end-of-life care in case they cannot speak for themselves

A living will is an advance directive that documents a patient's treatment wishes (e.g., CPR, ventilation) in the event they become incapacitated.

Which psychosocial issue is most commonly reported by long-term cancer survivors?

Answer: Fear of recurrence

Fear of cancer recurrence is the most commonly reported psychosocial concern among cancer survivors and can significantly impair quality of life.

Which of the following communication strategies improves medication adherence in cancer outpatients?

Answer: Using teach-back method to confirm patient understanding

The teach-back method — asking patients to explain instructions in their own words — confirms comprehension and significantly improves adherence.

Cultural competence in oncology nursing primarily means:

Answer: Adapting care to respect patients' cultural beliefs, values, and communication preferences

Cultural competence involves recognizing and adapting to each patient's cultural context — including beliefs about illness, decision-making, and communication — to provide equitable, respectful care.