The nurse is caring for a 28-year-old woman with a new diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma scheduled to begin treatment with chemotherapy and radiation.
The patient states that she is trying to become pregnant.
What is the nurse's best response?
Reassure the patient that radiation and chemotherapy will not affect their ability to become pregnant.
Discuss fertility counseling and contraception options that are available to the patient.
Refer the patient to the social worker to identify an appropriate pregnancy surrogate.
Notify the provider that treatment should be delayed until the patient becomes pregnant.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Chemotherapy and radiation can significantly affect fertility. It would be incorrect to reassure the patient that these treatments will not impact her ability to become pregnant, as these treatments often reduce fertility or cause temporary or permanent infertility.
Choice B rationale
Discussing fertility counseling and contraception options allows the patient to make informed decisions about her reproductive health. Fertility preservation methods, such as egg or embryo freezing, can be considered before starting treatment. This approach respects the patient's desire to become pregnant while acknowledging the impact of cancer treatment.
Choice C rationale
Referring the patient to a social worker for pregnancy surrogacy is premature and not directly addressing the patient's immediate concerns about fertility and treatment. Fertility counseling is a more appropriate initial step.
Choice D rationale
Delaying treatment for cancer to allow for pregnancy can have severe negative impacts on the patient's prognosis and is not advised. Immediate treatment is crucial to control the disease and improve survival chances.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Increasing the dose of corticosteroids without consulting a healthcare provider can be dangerous as it can cause serious side effects like immunosuppression, weight gain, and high blood pressure. Patients with Cushing's syndrome already have excess corticosteroids and should avoid additional doses.
Choice B rationale
This statement is incorrect as Cushing's syndrome is not related to a thyroid gland tumor. The treatment for Cushing's syndrome often involves removing a tumor from the adrenal gland or pituitary gland, not the thyroid.
Choice C rationale
Resuming physically intense activities like football should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Patients with Cushing's syndrome may have muscle weakness, osteoporosis, and other health issues that could be exacerbated by high-impact sports.
Choice D rationale
Patients with Cushing's syndrome have a weakened immune system due to high corticosteroid levels. Avoiding infections and promptly reporting any signs of illness, like fever, is crucial for their health.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Filgrastim (G-CSF) is used to stimulate the production of white blood cells to decrease the risk of infection. A formed bowel movement is unrelated to the specific outcomes of this medication.
Choice B rationale
While filgrastim can improve overall blood cell counts, its primary goal is to enhance neutrophil counts, rather than addressing skin petechiae or purpura, which may be related to platelet levels.
Choice C rationale
Filgrastim does not target gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea. Instead, it is aimed at restoring neutrophil levels to reduce infection risk.
Choice D rationale
Filgrastim is specifically designed to increase neutrophil counts, thus helping the patient to be free from infections by discharge, which is a SMART goal.
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