Home › OMSB exam › Oncology & Haematology Nursing
OMSB Oncology & Haematology Nursing Practice Questions
Oncology and haematology questions test chemotherapy safety, neutropenia and bleeding precautions, oncology emergencies and blood disorders common in the Gulf region such as sickle cell disease and thalassaemia. Below are 5 free sample questions for the OMSB nursing exam, each with the answer and a rationale.
What this topic covers
- Chemotherapy handling and extravasation
- Neutropenic and thrombocytopenia precautions
- Oncologic emergencies
- Sickle cell crisis care
- Thalassaemia and iron overload
- Palliative symptom control
The full bank has 59 oncology & haematology nursing questions, part of 1,500 questions across 16 nursing topics.
Free OMSB oncology & haematology nursing questions
1. Which description matches the red blood cells in iron deficiency anaemia?
- A. Normocytic and normochromic
- B. Macrocytic and normochromic
- C. Microcytic and hypochromic
- D. Sickle-shaped
Show answer and rationale
Lack of iron limits haemoglobin production, producing small (microcytic), pale (hypochromic) red cells. B12 and folate deficiency cause macrocytic cells.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – anaemia
2. A patient with lung cancer develops swelling of the face and neck, distended neck veins and breathlessness that worsens when lying down. What should the nurse suspect?
- A. Tumour lysis syndrome
- B. Hypoglycaemia
- C. Spinal cord compression
- D. Superior vena cava syndrome
Show answer and rationale
Obstruction of the superior vena cava by tumour impairs venous return from the head and upper body, causing facial and neck swelling, distended neck and chest veins and dyspnoea.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – oncological emergencies
3. A patient's white blood cell count is 2.0 × 10^9/L with 20% neutrophils and 5% bands. What is the absolute neutrophil count (ANC)?
- A. 1.5 × 10^9/L
- B. 5.0 × 10^9/L
- C. 0.4 × 10^9/L
- D. 0.5 × 10^9/L
Show answer and rationale
ANC = WBC × (% neutrophils + % bands) = 2.0 × (0.20 + 0.05) = 2.0 × 0.25 = 0.5 × 10^9/L (500/mm³), which is severe neutropenia.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – neutropenia
4. A patient has a sealed internal radiation (brachytherapy) implant. Which nursing measure is correct?
- A. Allow young children to stay overnight with the patient
- B. Limit time near the patient and keep a safe distance where possible
- C. Assign a pregnant nurse, as exposure is brief
- D. Pick up a dislodged source with gloved hands and return it
Show answer and rationale
Radiation safety is based on time, distance and shielding. Pregnant staff and children should not care for or visit the patient, and a dislodged source is handled only with long forceps and placed in a lead container.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – radiation therapy
5. A charge nurse is allocating patients. Which patient is most appropriate to allocate to the same nurse who is caring for a patient with severe neutropenia?
- A. A patient with Clostridioides difficile diarrhoea
- B. A patient admitted with confirmed influenza
- C. A patient with an MRSA-infected leg wound
- D. A patient after elective knee replacement with no infection
Show answer and rationale
To reduce cross-infection, the nurse caring for a severely neutropenic patient should not also care for patients with infections. The post-operative patient without infection poses the lowest risk.
Reference: Oncology nursing – neutropenic precautions
Study tip
A fever in a neutropenic patient is an emergency. Expect questions about acting on it immediately.
Practise the full OMSB bank
Unlock all 1,500 questions, practice by topic, and unlimited timed 70-question mock tests in the OMSB format (120 minutes, 60% practice pass mark). One-time $19.
More OMSB practice topics
OMSB exam guide: format, booking and study plan →