Chemotherapy Administration Flashcards
6 cards from real OCN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Chemotherapy Administration flashcards as text
Which calculation method is most commonly used to determine chemotherapy dosing?
Answer: Body surface area (BSA)
Chemotherapy doses are most commonly calculated using body surface area (m²) to standardize dosing across patient sizes.
A nurse notes blood return is absent from a patient's port during chemotherapy infusion. What is the priority action?
Answer: Stop the infusion and assess for extravasation or port malfunction
Loss of blood return may indicate port malfunction or tip migration; the infusion must be stopped immediately and the access assessed before continuing.
What does the term 'nadir' refer to in chemotherapy nursing?
Answer: The lowest point of blood cell counts after chemotherapy
Nadir is the period of lowest blood counts, typically 7–14 days after chemotherapy, when infection risk is greatest.
Which organization provides the primary standards for safe handling of hazardous drugs in oncology nursing?
Answer: Oncology Nursing Society (ONS)
The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) publishes evidence-based guidelines for chemotherapy administration and hazardous drug safety.
Which chemotherapy agent is associated with hemorrhagic cystitis as a major side effect?
Answer: Cyclophosphamide
Cyclophosphamide's metabolite acrolein irritates the bladder lining, causing hemorrhagic cystitis; mesna and hydration are used for prevention.
A patient receiving bleomycin should be monitored closely for which life-threatening complication?
Answer: Pulmonary fibrosis
Bleomycin can cause pulmonary fibrosis and pneumonitis; cumulative dose limits and pulmonary function monitoring are essential.