OCN Symptom Management 3

Question 1

Dyspnea in a patient with lung cancer should first be assessed for which reversible cause?

Accepted Answer

Pleural effusion

Answer

Tumor spread only

Answer

Terminal decline only

Answer

Anxiety disorder only

Question 2

Which assessment tool is recommended by ONS for routine screening of cancer symptom burden?

Accepted Answer

Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS)

Answer

Glasgow Coma Scale

Answer

APACHE II Score

Answer

Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)

Question 3

Hypercalcemia of malignancy is most commonly caused by which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) secreted by the tumor

Answer

Increased dietary calcium absorption

Answer

Vitamin D toxicity from supplements

Answer

Primary hyperparathyroidism coincidental to cancer

Question 4

A patient with bone metastases reports sudden inability to void and new lower extremity weakness. The nurse should suspect:

Accepted Answer

Spinal cord compression — a medical emergency

Answer

Urinary tract infection

Answer

Dehydration

Answer

Medication side effect from antiemetics

Question 5

For cancer pain management, the WHO analgesic ladder recommends starting with which class for mild pain?

Accepted Answer

Non-opioid analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen, NSAIDs)

Answer

Strong opioids immediately

Answer

Adjuvant medications only

Answer

Epidural analgesia

Question 6

Radiation-induced skin reactions are graded using which system in oncology practice?

Accepted Answer

NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)

Answer

Braden Scale

Answer

Norton Scale

Answer

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale