Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following conditions can cause a hiatal hernia?

• A. Increased intrathoracic pressure
• B. Weakness of the esophageal muscle
• C. Increased esophageal muscle pressure
• D. Weakness of the diaphragmic muscle

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Weakness of the diaphragmic muscle can lead to a hiatal hernia as it allows part of the stomach to push through the diaphragm into the chest cavity.

2. The nurse is doing an admission assessment on a client with a history of duodenal ulcer. To determine whether the problem is currently active, the nurse would assess the client for which of the following most frequent symptom(s) of duodenal ulcer?

• A. Pain that is relieved by food intake
• B. Pain that radiated down the right arm
• C. N/V
• D. Weight loss

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Pain that is relieved by food intake is the most frequent symptom of duodenal ulcers because the food neutralizes the stomach acid.

3. If a client had irritable bowel syndrome, which of the following diagnostic tests would determine if the diagnosis is Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis?

• A. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan
• B. Abdominal x-ray
• C. Barium swallow
• D. Colonoscopy with biopsy

Correct answer: D

Rationale: A colonoscopy with biopsy is the most definitive diagnostic test to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

4. Of the following signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction, which is related primarily to small bowel obstruction rather than large bowel obstruction?

• A. Profuse vomiting.
• B. Cramping abdominal pain.
• C. Abdominal distention.
• D. High-pitched bowel sounds above the obstruction.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Profuse vomiting is the classic sign of small bowel obstruction and rarely occurs with large bowel obstruction. Abdominal discomfort and distention are present in both small and large bowel obstructions, but distention is more common in large bowel obstruction. High-pitched bowel sounds indicate hyperperistalsis, which occurs early in obstruction.

5. A client has been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The nurse interprets that the client has dysfunction of which of the following parts of the digestive system?

• A. Chief cells of the stomach
• B. Parietal cells of the stomach
• C. Lower esophageal sphincter
• D. Upper esophageal sphincter

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The lower esophageal sphincter is a functional sphincter that normally remains closed except when food or fluids are swallowed. If relaxation of this sphincter occurs, the client could experience symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

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