the nurse is monitoring a client admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of appendicitis the client is scheduled for surgery for 2 hours the client
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Nursing Elites

ATI RN

ATI Gastrointestinal System

1. The nurse is monitoring a client admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of appendicitis. The client is scheduled for surgery for 2 hours. The client begins to complain of increases abdominal pain and begins to vomit. On assessment the nurse notes that the abdomen distended and bowel sounds are diminished. Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing intervention?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Based on the signs and symptoms presented in the question, the nurse should suspect peritonitis and should notify the physician. Administering pain medication is not an appropriate intervention. Heat should never be applied to the abdomen of a client with suspected appendicitis. Scheduling surgical time is not within the scope of nursing practice, although the physician probably would perform the surgery earlier than the prescheduled time.

2. Donald is a 61 y.o. man with diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is characterized by:

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Diverticulitis is characterized by crampy lower left quadrant pain and a low-grade fever.

3. A nurse is performing an assessment on a client with a suspected diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The nurse assesses the client, knowing that which of the following is a hallmark sign of this disorder?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A hallmark sign of acute pancreatitis is severe abdominal pain that is not relieved by vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are common presenting symptoms, with vomitus typically consisting of gastric and duodenal contents. Hypothermia is not a hallmark sign of acute pancreatitis. Fever, typically less than 38 degrees centigrade, is more common. Epigastric pain radiating to the neck area is not a characteristic sign of acute pancreatitis. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer.

4. Regina is a 46 y.o. woman with ulcerative colitis. You expect her stools to look like:

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Stools in ulcerative colitis are typically bloody and mucoid.

5. Which of the following symptoms is a client with colon cancer most likely to exhibit?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A change in bowel habits is the most common symptom of colon cancer.

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