ATI RN
Gastrointestinal System Nursing Exam Questions
1. When assessing the client with celiac disease, the nurse can expect to find which of the following?
- A. Steatorrhea
- B. Jaundiced sclerae
- C. Clay-colored stools
- D. Widened pulse pressure
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Because celiac disease destroys the absorbing surface of the intestine, fat isn't absorbed but is passed in the stool. Steatorrhea is bulky, fatty stools that have a foul odor. Jaundiced sclerae result from elevated bilirubin levels. Clay-colored stools are seen with biliary disease when bile flow is blocked. Celiac disease doesn't cause a widened pulse pressure.
2. The physician orders a Salem sump tube for gastrointestinal intubation. The nurse prepares for the insertion and obtains which of the following items from the supply room?
- A. A tube with a single lumen that connects to suction
- B. A tube with a large lumen and an air vent
- C. A Sengstaken-Blakemore tube
- D. A Dobbhoff weighted tube
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A tube with a large lumen and an air vent is a Salem sump tube. A tube with a single lumen is called a Levin’s tube. A Sengstaken-Blakemore tube is used to control bleeding in the esophagus. A Dobbhoff weighted tube is used for feedings.
3. The nurse is caring for a client with an exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Which of the following nursing measures should be included in the client's plan of care?
- A. Encourage regular use of antidiarrheal medications.
- B. Incorporate frequent rest periods into the client's schedule.
- C. Have the client maintain a high-fiber diet.
- D. Wear a gown when providing direct client care.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: It is important for the client to have frequent rest periods. Repeated episodes of diarrhea interrupt sleep patterns, and poor nutrition may also cause the client to feel weak. If the client is experiencing a severe exacerbation of ulcerative colitis, bed rest may be ordered. Antidiarrheal medications can be used selectively in ulcerative colitis but are not recommended for regular use as they can lead to colonic dilation. The client should maintain a low-residue, high-calorie, caffeine-free diet.
4. Your patient has a GI tract that is functioning, but has the inability to swallow foods. Which is the preferred method of feeding for your patient?
- A. TPN
- B. PPN
- C. NG feeding
- D. Oral liquid supplements
Correct answer: C
Rationale: NG feeding is the preferred method for patients with a functioning GI tract but an inability to swallow foods.
5. A nurse is reviewing the orders of a client admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Select the interventions that the nurse would expect to be prescribed for the client.
- A. Small, frequent high-calorie feedings.
- B. Meperidine (Demerol) as prescribed for pain.
- C. Place the client in a side-lying position with the head elevated 45-degrees.
- D. Administer antacids and anticholinergics to suppress gastrointestinal secretions.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct intervention for a client with acute pancreatitis is to prescribe pain medications such as meperidine to manage the abdominal pain, which is a prominent symptom of the condition. The other options are incorrect because: A) Clients with acute pancreatitis are normally placed on NPO (nothing by mouth) status to rest the pancreas, so small, frequent high-calorie feedings are not indicated. C) Placing the client in a side-lying position with the head elevated 45-degrees helps decrease tension on the abdomen and may ease pain, but it is not a standard intervention for acute pancreatitis. D) Administering antacids and anticholinergics to suppress gastrointestinal secretions is not a routine intervention for acute pancreatitis.
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