Nursing Elites

1. The client being seen in a physician’s office has just been scheduled for a barium swallow the next day. The nurse writes down which of the following instructions for the client to follow before the test?

• A. Fast for 8 hours before the test.
• B. Eat a regular supper and breakfast.
• C. Continue to take all oral medications as scheduled.
• D. Monitor own bowel movement pattern for constipation

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A barium swallow is an x-ray study that uses a substance called barium for contrast to highlight abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract. The client should fast for 8 to 12 hours before the test, depending on physician instructions. Most oral medications also are withheld before the test. After the procedure the nurse must monitor for constipation, which can occur as a result of the presence of barium in the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Which of the following complications is thought to be the most common cause of appendicitis?

• A. A fecalith
• B. Bowel kinking
• C. Internal bowel occlusion
• D. Abdominal bowel swelling

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A fecalith is a hardened stool that can block the appendix, leading to inflammation and infection, which is the most common cause of appendicitis.

3. A nurse is reviewing the results of serum laboratory studies drawn on a client who is suspected of having hepatitis. The nurse interprets that an elevation in which of the following studies is the most specific indicator of the disease?

• A. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• B. Serum bilirubin
• C. Hemoglobin
• D. Blood urea nitrogen

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Laboratory indicators of hepatitis include elevated liver enzymes, serum bilirubin level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate is nonspecific test that indicates the presence of inflammation somewhere in the body. Elevated blood urea nitrogen may indicate renal dysfunction. A hemoglobin level is unrelated to this diagnosis.

4. A client with rectal cancer may exhibit which of the following symptoms?

• A. Abdominal fullness
• B. Gastric fullness
• C. Rectal bleeding
• D. Right upper quadrant pain

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Rectal bleeding is a common symptom in clients with rectal cancer.

5. When a client has peptic ulcer disease, the nurse would expect a priority intervention to be:

• A. Assisting in inserting a Miller-Abbott tube
• B. Assisting in inserting an arterial pressure line
• C. Inserting a nasogastric tube
• D. Inserting an I.V.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Inserting a nasogastric tube is a priority intervention for a client with peptic ulcer disease to decompress the stomach.

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