ATI RN
Gastrointestinal System Nursing Exam Questions
1. A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who will be returning to a nursing unit following a percutaneous transhephatic cholangiogram. The nurse includes which intervention in the postprocedure plan of care?
- A. Place a sandbag over the insertion site.
- B. Allow the client bathroom privileges only.
- C. Encourage fluid intake.
- D. Allow the client to sit in a chair for meals.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Following this procedure, the nurse monitors the client’s vital signs closely for indications of hemorrhage and observes the needle insertion site for bleeding and bile leakage. A sandbag is placed over the insertion site to prevent bleeding. The client is maintained on bedrest, and oral intake is avoided in the immediate postprocedure period in case surgery is necessary to control hemorrhage of bile extravasation.
2. When obtaining a nursing history on a client with a suspected gastric ulcer, which signs and symptoms would the nurse expect to see? Select ONE that does not apply.
- A. Epigastric pain at night
- B. Relief of epigastric pain after eating
- C. Vomiting
- D. Weight loss
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Signs and symptoms of a gastric ulcer include epigastric pain at night, vomiting, and weight loss. Relief of epigastric pain after eating is not typically associated with gastric ulcers.
3. Your patient recently had abdominal surgery and tells you that he feels a popping sensation in his incision during a coughing spell, followed by severe pain. You anticipate an evisceration. Which supplies should you take to his room?
- A. A suture kit.
- B. Sterile water and a suture kit.
- C. Sterile water and sterile dressings.
- D. Sterile saline solution and sterile dressings.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: For a suspected evisceration, sterile saline solution and sterile dressings should be taken to the patient's room to cover the wound and keep it moist.
4. The pain of a duodenal ulcer can be distinguished from that of a gastric ulcer by which of the following characteristics?
- A. Early satiety
- B. Pain on eating
- C. Dull upper epigastric pain
- D. Pain on empty stomach
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Pain on an empty stomach is characteristic of a duodenal ulcer, while pain on eating is characteristic of a gastric ulcer.
5. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Which of the following symptoms should the nurse expect the client to report when responding to questions about his bowel elimination pattern?
- A. Constipation.
- B. Bloody, diarrheal stools.
- C. Steatorrhea.
- D. Alternating periods of constipation and diarrhea.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Diarrhea is the primary symptom of ulcerative colitis. It is profuse and severe; the client may pass as many as 15 to 20 watery stools per day. Stools may contain blood, mucus, and pus. The frequent diarrhea is often accompanied by anorexia and nausea. Constipation is not a sign or symptom of ulcerative colitis. Steatorrhea (fatty stools) is more typical of pancreatitis and cholecystitis. Alternating diarrhea and constipation is associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
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