Free OCN® Test Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the OCN® Test practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1During a smoking-cessation visit, a nurse explains the earliest physiologic benefits of quitting. Which improvement begins within a few hours?

   1. A. A substantial improvement in lung function
   2. B. A decline in the blood carbon monoxide level
   3. C. A reduction in the long-term risk of cancer
   4. D. A decrease in daily sputum production

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NCI states, "Within a few hours, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood begins to decline." This early change improves oxygen transport. The same section places reduced phlegm within weeks, substantial lung-function improvement within months, and lower cancer risk within years.

   Reference: Harms of Cigarette Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting — What are the immediate health benefits of quitting smoking?

2. 2A molecular report describes an activating alteration that makes a normal growth-promoting gene excessively active and drives uncontrolled proliferation. What is the altered cancer-driving gene called?

   1. A. A tumor suppressor gene
   2. B. A DNA repair gene
   3. C. An oncogene
   4. D. A housekeeping gene

   Answer: C

   Explanation: NCI explains that altered proto-oncogenes "may become cancer-causing genes (or oncogenes)". This is activation of growth-promoting signaling; tumor suppressor and DNA repair dysfunction involve different functions, and housekeeping genes maintain basic cellular processes.

   Reference: What Is Cancer? — Types of Genes that Cause Cancer

3. 3A nurse prepares a patient for destruction of a localized lesion using extreme cold generated by liquid nitrogen. Which procedure is planned?

   1. A. Radiofrequency ablation
   2. B. Cryosurgery
   3. C. Laser ablation
   4. D. Photodynamic therapy

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NCI states, "Cryosurgery is a type of treatment in which extreme cold produced by liquid nitrogen or argon gas is used to destroy abnormal tissue." Radiofrequency ablation uses heat, lasers use focused light, and photodynamic therapy combines a photosensitizing drug with light.

   Reference: Surgery to Treat Cancer — How surgery is performed—Cryosurgery

4. 4Months after axillary lymph node surgery, a patient develops persistent arm swelling diagnosed as secondary lymphedema. What fluid is accumulating in the affected tissue?

   1. A. Cerebrospinal fluid
   2. B. Lymph fluid
   3. C. Synovial fluid
   4. D. Pleural fluid

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NCI states, "Lymphedema is swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid in the body between the skin and muscle." The other named fluids occupy different anatomical compartments and do not define postoperative lymphedema.

   Reference: Lymphedema and Cancer — What is lymphedema?

5. 5A patient with leukemia develops disseminated intravascular coagulation with both microvascular thrombosis and bleeding. What mechanism explains the bleeding?

   1. A. Overactive clotting consumes platelets and clotting factors.
   2. B. An autoantibody selectively inhibits circulating factor VIII.
   3. C. Reduced hepatic synthesis lowers vitamin K–dependent factors.
   4. D. An inherited defect reduces functional von Willebrand factor.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NHLBI states, "the overactive clotting uses up platelets and clotting factors that help the blood to clot." Consumption explains bleeding alongside thrombosis in DIC. The other mechanisms describe acquired hemophilia, impaired hepatic factor synthesis, or inherited von Willebrand disease.

   Reference: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation — What is DIC?, progression and consumption

6. 6A nurse takes a spiritual history by exploring faith, its importance, the patient's community, and how these concerns should be addressed in care. Which structured approach is being used?

   1. A. FICA Spiritual History
   2. B. Duke Religious Index
   3. C. Brief Measure of Religious Coping
   4. D. Systems of Belief Inventory

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NCI identifies "Faith, Importance/Influence, Community, and Address (FICA) Spiritual History." These four areas match the assessment described. The other options are distinct spiritual or religious assessment instruments.

   Reference: Spirituality in Cancer Care (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version — Screening and Assessment of Spiritual Concerns, spiritual history

7. 7An adult with a newly identified HPV infection asks an oncology nurse what HPV vaccination can accomplish. Which purpose should guide the nurse's counseling?

   1. A. Clear an established HPV infection
   2. B. Reverse existing cervical dysplasia
   3. C. Treat an HPV-associated carcinoma
   4. D. Prevent acquisition of new HPV infections

   Answer: D

   Explanation: CDC states, "HPV vaccination prevents new HPV infections but does not treat existing HPV infections or diseases." Vaccination is preventive; it does not clear this patient's current infection or treat established dysplasia or carcinoma.

   Reference: HPV Vaccine Recommendations — Routine recommendations—Keep in mind

8. 8An oncology nurse reviews how a tumor can suppress antitumor T-cell activity. Which tumor-cell protein binds PD-1 on T cells to transmit an inhibitory checkpoint signal?

   1. A. PD-L1
   2. B. CD80
   3. C. CD86
   4. D. MHC class II

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NCI states, "The binding of PD-L1 to PD-1 keeps T cells from killing tumor cells in the body". CD80 and CD86 are ligands in other T-cell regulatory interactions, while MHC class II presents antigen and participates in other immune interactions; none is the named PD-1 partner here.

   Reference: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors — Opening diagram caption; How do immune checkpoint inhibitors work against cancer?

9. 9During minimally invasive abdominal cancer surgery, which instrument provides camera images from inside the abdomen through a small incision?

   1. A. Bronchoscope
   2. B. Cystoscope
   3. C. Laparoscope
   4. D. Colonoscope

   Answer: C

   Explanation: NCI explains, "They insert a long, thin tube with a tiny camera into one of the small cuts. This tube is called a laparoscope." The other scopes visualize the airways, bladder, and colon rather than the operative abdominal cavity through a small incision.

   Reference: Surgery to Treat Cancer — Types of surgery—minimally invasive surgery

10. 10A patient with chronic arm lymphedema develops rapidly increasing redness, warmth, tenderness, and fever. The nurse seeks urgent evaluation for which common infectious complication?

    1. A. Contact dermatitis
    2. B. Superficial thrombophlebitis
    3. C. Cellulitis
    4. D. Radiation fibrosis

    Answer: C

    Explanation: NCI states, "Cellulitis is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the skin that is a common complication of lymphedema." The acute inflammatory skin changes with fever warrant this concern. Dermatitis, thrombophlebitis, and fibrosis do not identify the bacterial skin infection described.

    Reference: Lymphedema and Cancer — Lymphedema and cellulitis