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

Pleural effusion is a common, treatable cause of dyspnea in lung cancer patients and should be assessed and drained if present.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS)

Answer

The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) is a validated, multi-symptom tool widely endorsed for routine oncology symptom screening.

Question 3

Hypercalcemia of malignancy is most commonly caused by which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

Most cancer-related hypercalcemia is caused by PTHrP secreted by tumors, which mimics PTH and drives osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.

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 retention combined with new lower extremity weakness in a patient with bone metastases signals spinal cord compression, requiring emergent imaging and intervention.

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

The WHO analgesic ladder begins with non-opioid analgesics for mild pain (Step 1) and escalates to opioids only as pain severity increases.

OCN Exam Practice Test

OCN Exam Practice Test

OCN Symptom Management 3