Nursing Elites

1. Dark, tarry stools indicate bleeding in which location of the GI tract?

• A. Upper colon.
• B. Lower colon.
• C. Upper GI tract.
• D. Small intestine.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Dark, tarry stools indicate bleeding in the upper GI tract.

2. Which of the following expected outcomes would be appropriate for the client who has ulcerative colitis?

• A. The client maintains a daily record of intake and output.
• B. The client verbalizes the importance of small, frequent feedings.
• C. The client uses a heating pad to decrease abdominal cramping.
• D. The client accepts that a colostomy is inevitable at some time in his life.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Small, frequent feedings are better tolerated by clients with ulcerative colitis as they lessen the amount of fecal material present in the gastrointestinal tract and decrease stimulation. The client does not need to maintain a daily record of intake and output unless an exacerbation of the disease occurs. A heating pad should not be applied to the intestine as it is inflamed. It is not inevitable that the client will require surgery to treat ulcerative colitis.

3. 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.

4. You’re performing an abdominal assessment on Brent who is 52 y.o. In which order do you proceed?

• A. Observation, percussion, palpation, auscultation
• B. Observation, auscultation, percussion, palpation
• C. Percussion, palpation, auscultation, observation
• D. Palpation, percussion, observation, auscultation

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct order for performing an abdominal assessment is observation, auscultation, percussion, and palpation.

5. When planning care for a client with ulcerative colitis who is experiencing symptoms, which client care activities can the nurse appropriately delegate to a unlicensed assistant?

• A. Assessing the client's bowel sounds
• B. administration of pain medication every 4 hours
• C. Evaluating the client's response to antidiarrheal medications
• D. Maintaining intake and output records

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Delegating tasks such as providing skin care, maintaining intake and output records, and obtaining the client's weight are within the scope of practice for an unlicensed assistant. Assessing bowel sounds and evaluating the response to medications require nursing judgment and should not be delegated.

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