Gastrointestinal Disorders NCLEX questions

Gastrointestinal Disorders NCLEX questions

The health care provider schedules a patient for a colonoscopy. In preparing him for this

procedure, you explain that:

• he will be sedated to minimize discomfort
• the procedure takes only about six minutes
• he may have a liquid breakfast before the procedure
• he can go back to work as soon as the procedure is over - a. he will be sedated to minimize

discomfort

The nurse is caring for several patients with gastrointestinal problems. Which patient is most likely to need a guaiac (hemooccult) test?

• patient reports dark amber-colored urine
• patient reports black discoloration of stool
• Patient vomits small amounts of yellow emesis
• patient complains of right upper quadrant pain - b. patient reports black discoloration of stool

Which healthy lifestyle choice can decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer?

• Eat a well-balanced diet
• Obtain 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week
• Refrain from drinking any alcohol
• refrain from smoking cigarettes - d. refrain from smoking cigarettes

When patients undergo diagnostic tests of the gastrointestinal system, elderly patients in

particular must be closely watched for:

• dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation from contrast media - a. dehydration and electrolyte imbalance

Hyperactive bowel sounds in one quadrant and absent bowel sounds in other quadrants plus

nausea and vomiting may indicate:

• pancreatitis
• cholecystitis
• gastrointestinal bleeding
• intestinal obstruction - d. intestinal obstruction

Your patient is to have a liver biopsy. What teaching points should be included in the instructions (SATA)

• Nothing is allowed by mouth for 4-8 hours prior to the procedure
• local or general anesthesia will be used
• patient will be positioned on the right side for the procedure
• The procedure takes about an hour
• It will be necessary to lie on the right side for 1-2 hours postprocedure

• Heavy lifting or strenuous activities are to be avoided for 1-2 weeks - Nothing is allowed by

mouth for 4-8 hours prior to procedure Local or general anesthesia will be used It will be necessary to lie on the right side for 1-2 hours post procedure.Heavy lifting or strenuous activities are to be avoided for 1-2 weeks

The nurse hears in report that a patient is suspected of having ascites. WHich action is the nurse most likely to initiate for this specific condition?

• Elevate the head of the bed 30-45 degrees
• Assess for pain every 30-60 minutes
• Perform serial measurements of abdominal girth
• Slightly elevate legs and buttocks to help expel flatus - c. Perform serial measurements of

abdominal girth

The patient is supposed to be NPO for 12 hours prior to diagnostic testing. The nursing assistant reports that the patient just drank a soda and ate a sandwich. What should the nurse do first?

• Explain the purpose of NPO to the patient
• Make an incident report that includes all the relevant facts
• Cancel the test and reschedule it for the next day
• Notify the charge nurse and diagnostic technician - d. Notify the charge nurse and diagnostic

technician

A nurse hears in report that a patient has stomatitis. Which intervention is the nurse most likely to initiate for this patient?

• check for tube gastric residual before feeding
• assess for a typical 24 hour eating pattern
• offer frequent mouth care and artificial saliva
• perform a physical assessment with a skinfold measurement - c. offer frequent mouth care and

artificial saliva

The nurse is caring for a patient with a gastrostomy tube. Which nursing intervention is appropriate?

• flush the tube after each feeding
• instruct the patient to take some practice swallows
• give only thickened liquids
• handle the tube using sterile technique - a. flush the tube after each feeding

Prior to administering an enteral feeding through a feeding tube, the nurse checks for residual.What is the best rationale for performing this nursing action?

• checking for residual is likely to be in the procedural manual
• the appearance of residual should be documented
• excessive volume can cause regurgitation and aspiration
• The nutritionist bases formula recommendations on residual content - c. excessive volume can

cause regurgitation and aspiration

Following a stroke, a patient has dysphagia and a nursing diagnosis of altered swallowing ability.What would be the best outcome statement?

• patient will receive pureed foods and thickened liquids
• patient will increase swallowing muscle strength
• patient will control breathing while swallowing
• patient will not aspirate when swallowing - d. patient will not aspirate when swallowing

A patient is second day postoperative for GI surgery and has a nasogastric tube attached to suction. There is little drainage in the suction container after four hours. What should the nurse do first?

• Check to see that the NG tube is still in the correct place by checking the mark near the nose
• try to aspirate some stomach contents
• irrigate the tube with the ordered amount of solution
• Instill 2 mL of air into the pigtail of the NG tube with a dry syringe - a. Check to see that the

NG tube is still in the correct place by checking the mark near the nose

A patient is suspected of having esophageal cancer. Which diagnostic test is the health care provider most likely to order to make the definitive diagnosis?

• Esophageal manometry with 24 hour pH monitoring
• Gastric analysis and serum tests for H. phylori
• Upper GI series and check BMI
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy - d. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy

Proton pump inhibitors such as rabeprazole (AcipHex) work by:

• Increasing HCl secretion in the stomach
• neutralizing stomach acid
• both neutralizing and suppressing stomach acid
• Suppressing the secretion of stomach acid - d. Suppressing the secretion of stomach acid

A nursing implication for esomeprazole (Nexium) is to:

• administer the drug only with food
• not to administer the drug with digoxin (lanoxin)
• administer the drug along with an antacid
• Do not administer the drug along with orange or grapefruit juice - b. not to administer the drug

with digoxin (lanoxin)

When caring for a patient with nasogastric suction, you would test the drainage for blood if you

found:

• copious greenish drainage in the container
• material resembling coffee grounds in the tubing
• complaints of continued nausea by the patient
• a rising BP and pulse rate. - b. material resembling coffee grounds in the tubing