NCLEX : NCLEX

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for NCLEX

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Conditions And Treatments

The appearance of red, purple, brown, or black papular lesions on the extremities, back, face, mouth, and genitalia is a typical presentation for what malignancy?

Possible Answers:

Melanoma

Kaposi sarcoma

Pancreatic cancer

Burkitt lymphoma

Correct answer:

Kaposi sarcoma

Explanation:

Kaposi sarcoma presents with red, purple, brown, or black papular lesions on the extremities, back, face, mouth, and genitalia. It is caused by human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) and is typically seen in immunocompromised patients.

Neither Burkitt lymphoma nor pancreatic cancer typically present with any associated skin lesions, while melanomas tend to be singular lesions.

Example Question #811 : Nclex

What type of cancer generally presents with elevated calcium, renal failure, anemia, and lytic bone lesions?

Possible Answers:

Multiple myeloma

Ovarian cancer

Osteosarcoma

Gastric cancer

Correct answer:

Multiple myeloma

Explanation:

Multiple myeloma, also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease, presents with lytic bone lesions, blood count abnormalities, elevated blood calcium, and an abnormal paraprotein antibodies which can cause damage to kidneys.

Osteosarcoma, while located in the bone, tends to present with a mass visible on imaging. Gastric and ovarian cancer are not associated with any changes in bone (unless due to metastasis). 

Example Question #3 : Conditions And Treatments

What is the most common malignant brain tumor in children?

Possible Answers:

Meningioma

Medulloblastoma

Glioblastoma

Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma 

Correct answer:

Medulloblastoma

Explanation:

90% of medulloblastomas are in pediatric patients. It is the tumor type in 14.5% of primary brain malignancies of childhood and adolescence. Glioblastoma is the most common type of brain tumor in adults and accounts for 52% of all primary brain tumors. Meningiomas are also fairly common in adult populations, accounting for 34% of primary brain tumors. Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma is a brain tumor of childhood but only accounts for 2% of cases.

Example Question #1 : Conditions And Treatments

Actinic keratosis occasionally develops into which skin cancer? 

Possible Answers:

Squamous cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma

Melanoma

Basal cell carcinoma

Correct answer:

Squamous cell carcinoma

Explanation:

Actinic keratosis occasionally develops into squamous cell carcinoma and is generally removed prophylactically. Actinic keratosis is not associated with development of any of the other skin cancer types listed.

Example Question #5 : Conditions And Treatments

Which of the following types of lung cancer is most linked to cigarette smoking?

Possible Answers:

Adenocarcinoma

Mesothelioma

Small cell carcinoma

Bronchial carcinoids

Correct answer:

Small cell carcinoma

Explanation:

Small cell carcinoma (also called oat cell cancer) makes up 15% of lung cancers and almost always presents in patients with a history of cigarette smoking. 

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer in patients who have never smoked. Mesothelioma is most commonly caused by asbestos exposure, while bronchial carcinoids are often of unknown etiology.

Example Question #11 : Identifying Types Of Tumor

What condition may look like eczema around the nipple but is actually a malignant skin change?

Possible Answers:

Paget's disease of the breast

Invasive lobular carcinoma 

Invasive ductal carcinoma

Medullary carcinoma

Correct answer:

Paget's disease of the breast

Explanation:

Paget's disease of the breast will often present as itchy, scaling, cracked, red lesions around the nipple. The other conditions mentioned are all forms of breast cancer, but all of them originate in tissues deeper to the breast and will generally present without a visible rash, though some skin changes such as redness or dimpling may occur.

Example Question #812 : Nclex

Which of the following is a benign tumor? 

Possible Answers:

Osteosarcoma

Neuroblastoma

Chondrosarcoma

Adenocarcinoma

Fibroma

Correct answer:

Fibroma

Explanation:

A fibroma is considered a benign fibrous tissue tumor. The other tumor types are all malignant.

Example Question #12 : Conditions And Treatments

What is the most common soft tissue tumor in children?

Possible Answers:

Neuroblastoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Epithelioid sarcoma

Desmoid tumor

Correct answer:

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Explanation:

The most common soft tissue tumor in children is rhabdomyosarcoma. This generally presents on the face, neck, or extremities, with nearly one-third of cases presenting with orbital involvement. 90% of all cases of rhabdomyosarcoma are seen in children, most often seen in children under 10 years of age. Leiomyosarcoma, epithelioid sarcoma, and desmoid tumors are all relatively rare soft tissue tumors of childhood.

Example Question #12 : Identifying Types Of Tumor

The nursing student prepares a report on acute versus chronic leukemia. Which of the following assessments is correct?

Possible Answers:

Acute leukemia has a rapid onset and often occurs among those aged 25 to 60; chronic leukemia has a gradual onset and often occurs among children and young adults

None of these

Acute leukemia has a gradual onset and often occurs among children and young adults; chronic leukemia has a rapid onset and often occurs among those aged 25 to 60

Acute leukemia has a rapid onset and often occurs among children and young adults; chronic leukemia has a gradual onset and often occurs among those aged 25 to 60

Acute leukemia has a gradual onset and often occurs among those aged 25 to 60; chronic leukemia has a rapid onset and often occurs among children and young adults

Correct answer:

Acute leukemia has a rapid onset and often occurs among children and young adults; chronic leukemia has a gradual onset and often occurs among those aged 25 to 60

Explanation:

To answer this question, it is essential to 1) identify the correct definition of acute conditions versus chronic conditions and 2) identify the age groups that experience acute leukemia versus chronic leukemia. Acute conditions such as acute leukemias have rapid onsets, while chronic conditions such as chronic leukemias have gradual onsets. Acute leukemias are more common among children and young adults, while chronic conditions are more common among adults aged 25 to 60.

Example Question #13 : Conditions And Treatments

Which of the following types of kidney tumors occurs most frequently in children?

Possible Answers:

Renal oncocytoma

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma

Metanephric adenoma

Wilm's tumor

Correct answer:

Wilm's tumor

Explanation:

Wilm's tumor, also known as nephroblastoma, is a rare type of malignant tumor that occurs primarily in children. These tumors tend to be unilateral, and will present as an abdominal mass with abdominal pain or tenderness, nausea and vomiting, and fever. 20% of cases will also present with hematuria. 

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