C.P.'s wife tells you she's heard that chemotherapy makes you really sick. Again, using simple
terms, how would you explain chemotherapy side effects?
What will be an ideal response?
Chemotherapy attacks any cell that multiplies fast; cancer cells multiply rapidly, so the
chemotherapy attacks them. Many cells in the body multiply quickly, such as the cells that make your
hair grow and the red blood cells (RBCs) that carry oxygen to all of the cells in your body. The white
blood cells (WBCs) that fight infection, the platelets that make your blood clot, and cells in your
bowels that help you digest and absorb the food you eat are also fast-growing cells. Chemotherapy
makes people sick because the drugs attacking the cancer are also attacking all of the other fastgrowing cells in the patient's body. Different kinds of chemotherapy affect people in different ways;
some people don't get very sick; others do. Many drugs have been developed to help decrease the
amount of nausea and sickness that a person feels.
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The nurse is caring for a patient who is recovering from bowel surgery. Which assessment finding best indicates that the bowel is starting to resume function and the patient will be able to resume oral intake soon?
a. The patient has bowel sounds x 4 quadrants and is passing gas. b. The patient has no nausea, and abdominal pain is minimal. c. The patient feels hungry for chicken soup and hot tea. d. The patient's nasogastric tube was discontinued the previous day.
The prescriber orders 1500 mg three times per day for 1 week. Is this a safe, accurate order?
What will be an ideal response?
The nurse is preparing to administer a cardiotonic drug to a client. Which of the following assessments should the nurse perform before administering the medication?
A) Capillary blanch test B) Respiratory rate C) Popliteal pulse D) Apical pulse
The nurse is preparing to document the findings of an assessment. Which concepts should the nurse's documentation reflect? Select all that apply.
A. Primary and secondary data. B. Agency policy. C. Standard precautions. D. Patient safety. E. Professional standards.