Leukemia
Leukemia interferes with normal bone marrow function. Name three major problems this can cause.
What are anemia, infection, and bleeding?
Dehydration, infection, stress, and hypoxia can all contribute to this problem.
What is sickling/vaso-occlusion?
Name two respiratory changes that may be warning signs of lung cancer.
What are a persistent/change in cough, hemoptysis, or hoarseness?
Abnormal cells are present inside a breast duct but have not invaded surrounding tissue. What general type of disease is this?
What is noninvasive breast cancer/DCIS?
Hair loss, nausea, mucosal irritation, and peripheral neuropathy may occur with this cancer treatment.
What is chemotherapy?
What should the nurse routinely assess when caring for a client with a surgical drain?
What are drainage amount, color, insertion site, and system function?
A client’s beliefs conflict with a recommended treatment. What principle should guide nursing care?
What is respecting the client’s informed decision/autonomy?
A client with leukemia has a very low neutrophil count. What complication becomes a major concern?
What is infection?
A client with sickle cell disease has been vomiting and now shows evidence of dehydration. What intervention should the nurse anticipate?
What is fluid replacement/hydration?
Early-stage non-small cell lung cancer may be treated with this approach when the tumor is removable.
What is surgical resection?
What underlying tissue change can cause breast dimpling with invasive cancer?
What is fibrosis and shortening of Cooper’s ligaments?
Redness and irritation limited to a cancer treatment area are associated with this therapy.
What is radiation therapy?
Why are coughing, deep breathing, and incentive spirometry emphasized after thoracic surgery?
What is promoting lung expansion and preventing respiratory complications?
Before beginning a blood transfusion, what should the nurse assess in addition to verifying the blood product and client?
What are baseline vital signs and the client’s current condition?
A client receiving treatment for leukemia develops an elevated temperature. Why should the nurse take this seriously?
What is a possible infection in an immunocompromised client?
Hydroxyurea helps reduce complications of sickle cell disease by increasing this type of hemoglobin.
What is fetal hemoglobin/Hgb F?
After lung surgery, coughing, deep breathing, and incentive spirometry help prevent these complications.
What are postoperative respiratory complications such as atelectasis or pneumonia?
Why is the affected arm protected following some breast cancer surgeries?
What is the risk for impaired lymphatic drainage/lymphedema?
A client receiving radiation to the chest develops discomfort when swallowing. What treatment effect should the nurse consider?
What is esophageal irritation/esophagitis?
What is the primary purpose of a chest drainage system after lung surgery?
What is removing air/fluid and allowing lung expansion?
A client develops crackles, dyspnea, and signs of excess circulating volume during blood-product therapy. What complication should the nurse consider?
What is circulatory overload?
Rapid destruction of malignant cells can cause significant metabolic changes. What complication should the nurse consider?
What is tumor lysis syndrome?
What serious adverse effect makes CBC monitoring important for a client taking hydroxyurea?
What is bone marrow suppression?
A client with lung cancer becomes restless and confused. What physiologic problem should the nurse consider?
What is hypoxia?
What two simple postoperative measures can help promote lymphatic drainage from the affected arm?
What are arm elevation and prescribed hand/arm exercises?
A targeted cancer medication causes severe diarrhea. Which type of laboratory abnormality should concern the nurse?
What is an electrolyte imbalance, particularly hypokalemia?
A chest drainage system becomes disconnected. What principle should guide the nurse’s immediate response?
What is restoring a water seal while maintaining system integrity?
A client has several abnormal findings. What framework helps the nurse decide which one requires immediate attention?
What are ABCs/physiologic priorities?
A client with leukemia has severe thrombocytopenia. What type of nursing precautions should become a priority?
What are bleeding precautions?
A client experiencing a vaso-occlusive crisis suddenly develops respiratory symptoms and decreased oxygenation. What complication should the nurse suspect?
What is acute chest syndrome?
Following thoracic surgery, what change in the position of the airway could indicate a serious complication?
What is tracheal deviation?
A client taking tamoxifen develops a new unilateral lower-extremity problem. What complication should the nurse consider?
What is a thromboembolic event/DVT?
Shortly after an IV cancer treatment begins, the client develops chills, dyspnea, flushing, and hypotension. What should the nurse suspect?
What is an infusion reaction?
Following breast surgery, what information about a surgical drain should the client track at home?
What are the amount and characteristics/color of drainage?
Why can a new finding be more important than a more severe-looking chronic abnormality?
What is an acute change may indicate deterioration?
A client receiving leukemia treatment develops bruising, fatigue, and signs of infection. What underlying process could explain all three findings?
What is bone marrow suppression?
A client with sickle cell disease has severe pain, dehydration, and normal oxygenation. Which physiologic problem should guide the nurse’s initial priority?
What is decreased circulating volume/impaired perfusion related to dehydration?
A postoperative lung cancer client develops worsening respiratory distress. Before assuming this is expected after surgery, what systems should the nurse immediately evaluate?
What are respiratory status and chest tube/drainage system function?
A client develops swelling and heaviness of the affected arm following breast surgery with lymph node removal. What complication should the nurse suspect, and what should nursing care focus on?
What is lymphedema; promote lymphatic drainage and protect/monitor the affected extremity?
A client receiving cancer therapy reports fatigue, decreased appetite, and mild skin changes but then develops new respiratory difficulty. Which finding changes the situation from expected treatment effects to a priority problem?
What is the new respiratory difficulty/impaired oxygenation?
A postoperative client has pain, drainage from a surgical device, and a new respiratory change. Which finding should receive priority?
What is the respiratory change because airway/breathing takes priority?
Four oncology clients need assessment. One has an expected treatment effect, one has a chronic symptom, one has a mild laboratory abnormality, and one has a new change in oxygenation. Who should the nurse see first?
Who is the client with the new change in oxygenation?