ATI RN
Gastrointestinal System Nursing Exam Questions
1. 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.
2. Stephen is a 62 y.o. patient that has had a liver biopsy. Which of the following groups of signs alert you to a possible pneumothorax?
- A. Dyspnea and reduced or absent breath sounds over the right lung
- B. Tachycardia, hypotension, and cool, clammy skin
- C. Fever, rebound tenderness, and abdominal rigidity
- D. Redness, warmth, and drainage at the biopsy site
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Dyspnea and reduced or absent breath sounds over the right lung are signs of a possible pneumothorax.
3. Which of the following activities should the nurse encourage the client with a peptic ulcer to avoid?
- A. Chewing gum.
- B. Smoking cigarettes.
- C. Eating chocolate.
- D. Taking acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Cigarette smoking should be avoided because of its stimulatory effect on gastric secretions. Nicotine also increases the release of epinephrine, which leads to vasoconstriction. The client may chew gum if desired. The client may eat chocolate if desired. A client with a peptic ulcer should check with the physician before taking any over-the-counter drug, but acetaminophen does not typically cause gastric irritation.
4. A client with ulcerative colitis is diagnosed with a mild case of the disease. The nurse doing dietary teaching gives the client examples of foods to eat that represent which of the following therapeutic diets?
- A. High-fat with milk
- B. High-protein without milk
- C. Low-roughage without milk
- D. Low-roughage with milk
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The client with a mild case of ulcerative colitis is often advised to follow a diet low in roughage and avoid milk. This dietary approach helps reduce the frequency of diarrhea in these clients. Therefore, the correct therapeutic diet for the client with ulcerative colitis in this scenario is a low-roughage diet without milk. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because high-fat, high-protein, and low-roughage with milk diets are not typically recommended for clients with ulcerative colitis, especially those with mild cases.
5. Colon cancer is most closely associated with which of the following conditions?
- A. Appendicitis
- B. Hemorrhoids
- C. Hiatal hernia
- D. Ulcerative colitis
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Ulcerative colitis is a condition closely associated with an increased risk of developing colon cancer due to chronic inflammation of the colon.
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