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An adult patient has presented to the health clinic with a complaint of a firm, painless cervical lymph node. The patient denies any recent infectious diseases. What is the nurses most appropriate response to the patients complaint?
- A. Call 911.
- B. Promptly refer the patient for medical assessment.
- C. Facilitate a radiograph of the patients neck and have the results forwarded to the patients primary care provider.
- D. Encourage the patient to track the size of the lymph node and seek care in 1 week.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hodgkin lymphoma usually begins as an enlargement of one or more lymph nodes on one side of the neck. The individual nodes are painless and firm but not hard. Prompt medical assessment is necessary if a patient has this presentation. However, there is no acute need to call 911. Delaying care for 1 week could have serious consequences and x-rays are not among the common diagnostic tests.
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After receiving a diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia, a patient is visibly distraught, stating, I have no idea where to go from here. How should the nurse prepare to meet this patients psychosocial needs?
- A. Assess the patients previous experience with the health care system.
- B. Reassure the patient that treatment will be challenging but successful.
- C. Assess the patients specific needs for education and support.
- D. Identify the patients plan of medical care.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In order to meet the patients needs, the nurse must first identify the specific nature of these needs. According to the nursing process, assessment must precede interventions. The plan of medical care is important, but not central to the provision of support. The patients previous health care is not a primary consideration, and the nurse cannot assure the patient of successful treatment.
A nurse practitioner is assessing a patient who has a fever, malaise, and a white blood cell count that is elevated. Which of the following principles should guide the nurses management of the patients care?
- A. There is a need for the patient to be assessed for lymphoma.
- B. Infection is the most likely cause of the patients change in health status.
- C. The patient is exhibiting signs and symptoms of leukemia.
- D. The patient should undergo diagnostic testing for multiple myeloma.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Leukocytosis is most often the result of infection. It is only considered pathologic (and suggestive of leukemia) if it is persistent and extreme. Multiple myeloma and lymphoma are not likely causes of this constellation of symptoms.
A patient with non-Hodgkins lymphoma is receiving information from the oncology nurse. The patient asks the nurse why she should stop drinking and smoking and stay out of the sun. What would be the nurses best response?
- A. Everyone should do these things because theyre health promotion activities that apply to everyone.
- B. You dont want to develop a second cancer, do you?
- C. You need to do this just to be on the safe side.
- D. Its important to reduce other factors that increase the risk of second cancers.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse should encourage patients to reduce other factors that increase the risk of developing second cancers, such as use of tobacco and alcohol and exposure to environmental carcinogens and excessive sunlight. The other options do not answer the patients question, and also make light of the patients question.
An emergency department nurse is triaging a 77-year-old man who presents with uncharacteristic fatigue as well as back and rib pain. The patient denies any recent injuries. The nurse should recognize the need for this patient to be assessed for what health problem?
- A. Hodgkin disease
- B. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- C. Multiple myeloma
- D. Acute thrombocythemia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Back pain, which is often a presenting symptom in multiple myeloma, should be closely investigated in older patients. The lymphomas and bleeding disorders do not typically present with the primary symptom of back pain or rib pain.
An oncology nurse is caring for a patient with multiple myeloma who is experiencing bone destruction. When reviewing the patients most recent blood tests, the nurse should anticipate what imbalance?
- A. Hypercalcemia
- B. Hyperproteinemia
- C. Elevated serum viscosity
- D. Elevated RBC count
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypercalcemia may result when bone destruction occurs due to the disease process. Elevated serum viscosity occurs because plasma cells excrete excess immunoglobulin. RBC count will be decreased. Hyperproteinemia would not be present.