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. Five days after undergoing surgery, a client develops a small-bowel obstruction. A Miller-Abbott tube is inserted for bowel decompression. Which nursing diagnosis takes priority?
- A. Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements
- B. Acute pain
- C. Deficient fluid volume
- D. Excess fluid volume
Correct answer: C
Rationale: For a client with a small-bowel obstruction and a Miller-Abbott tube, deficient fluid volume is the priority nursing diagnosis.
3. 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.
4. A patient with Crohn’s disease is admitted after 4 days of diarrhea. Which of the following urine specific gravity values do you expect to find in this patient?
- A. 1.005
- B. 1.011
- C. 1.02
- D. 1.03
Correct answer: D
Rationale: A urine specific gravity of 1.030 indicates concentrated urine, which is expected in a patient with dehydration due to diarrhea from Crohn’s disease.
5. Arthur has a family history of colon cancer and is scheduled to have a sigmoidoscopy. He is crying as he tells you, “I know that I have colon cancer, too.” Which response is most therapeutic?
- A. I know just how you feel.
- B. You seem upset.
- C. Oh, don’t worry about it, everything will be just fine.
- D. Why do you think you have cancer?
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's emotions with 'You seem upset' is the most therapeutic response.
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