ATI RN
Gastrointestinal System Nursing Exam Questions
1. The nurse is assessing a 71-year-old female client with ulcerative colitis. Which assessment finding related to the family will have the greatest impact on the client's rehabilitation after discharge?
- A. The family's ability to take care of the client's special diet needs
- B. The family's expectation that the client will resume responsibilities and role-related activities
- C. Emotional support from the family
- D. The family's ability to understand the ups and downs of the illness
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Emotional support from the family is the main need. A special diet doesn't focus on emotional needs. Role expectations don't address the main issue, but emotional support while the client is fulfilling these roles is important. The family's ability to understand the ups and downs of the illness will help them but not the client.
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. 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.
4. A nurse is providing the client with biliary obstruction a simple overview of the anatomy of the liver and gallbladder. The nurse tells the client that normally the liver stores bile in the gallbladder, which is connected to the liver by the?
- A. Liver canaliculi
- B. Common bile duct
- C. Cystic duct
- D. Right hepatic duct.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The gallbladder receives bile from the liver through the cystic duct. The liver collects bile in the canaliculi. Bile then flows into the common hepatic duct. From the common hepatic duct, the bile can be stored in the gallbladder through the cystic duct. Otherwise, the bile can flow directly into the duodenum by way of the common bile duct.
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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