ATI RN
Gastrointestinal System Nursing Exam Questions
1. A nurse is inserting a nasogastric tube in an adult client. During the procedure, the client begins to cough and has difficulty breathing. Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing action?
- A. Remove the tube and reinsert when the respiratory distress subsides.
- B. Pull back on the tube and wait until the respiratory distress subsides.
- C. Quickly insert the tube.
- D. Notify the physician immediately.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: During the insertion of a nasogastric tube, if the client experiences difficulty breathing or any respiratory distress, withdraw the tube slightly, stop the tube advancement, and wait until the distress subsides. Options 1 and 4 are unnecessary. Quickly inserting the tube is not an appropriate action because, in this situation, it may be likely that the tube has entered the bronchus.
2. The client with a colostomy has an order for irrigation of the colostomy. The nurse used which solution for irrigation?
- A. Distilled water
- B. Tap water
- C. Sterile water
- D. Lactated Ringer’s
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Tap water at body temperature is generally used for colostomy irrigation unless the local water supply is not safe for drinking, in which case bottled water can be used.
3. Anna is 45 y.o. and has a bleeding ulcer. Despite multiple blood transfusions, her HGB is 7.5g/dl and HCT is 27%. Her doctor determines that surgical intervention is necessary and she undergoes partial gastrectomy. Postoperative nursing care includes:
- A. Giving pain medication Q6H.
- B. Flushing the NG tube with sterile water.
- C. Positioning her in high Fowler’s position.
- D. Keeping her NPO until the return of peristalsis.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Postoperative care for a patient who underwent partial gastrectomy includes keeping her NPO until the return of peristalsis to prevent complications.
4. Your patient has a retractable gastric peptic ulcer and has had a gastric vagotomy. Which factor increases as a result of vagotomy?
- A. Peristalsis.
- B. Gastric acidity.
- C. Gastric motility.
- D. Gastric pH.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: After a gastric vagotomy, the gastric pH increases as a result of reduced acid secretion.
5. A client’s ulcerative colitis symptoms have been present for longer than 1 week. The nurse recognizes that the client should be assessed carefully for signs of which of the following complications?
- A. Heart failure
- B. DVT
- C. Hypokalemia
- D. Hypocalcemia
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The client should be assessed carefully for signs of hypokalemia, a common complication of prolonged ulcerative colitis symptoms.
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