Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following tests can be performed to diagnose a hiatal hernia?

• A. Colonoscopy
• B. Lower GI series
• C. Barium swallow
• D. Abdominal x-rays

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A barium swallow is a diagnostic test that can visualize the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine to diagnose a hiatal hernia.

2. Britney, a 20 y.o. student is admitted with acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory findings do you expect to be abnormal for this patient?

• A. Serum creatinine and BUN
• B. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
• C. Serum amylase and lipase
• D. Cardiac enzymes

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Serum amylase and lipase levels are typically elevated in patients with acute pancreatitis.

3. The nurse is assessing a client 24 hours following a cholecystectomy. The nurse notes that the T-tube has drained 750ml of green-brown drainage. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

• A. Notify the physician
• B. Document the findings
• C. Irrigate the T-tube
• D. Clamp the T-tube

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Documenting the findings is the most appropriate action as 750ml of green-brown drainage is expected after a cholecystectomy.

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. Kevin has a history of peptic ulcer disease and vomits coffee-ground emesis. What does this indicate?

• A. He has fresh, active upper GI bleeding.
• B. He needs immediate saline gastric lavage.
• C. His gastric bleeding occurred 2 hours earlier.
• D. He needs a transfusion of packed RBCs.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Coffee-ground emesis is a sign of upper gastrointestinal bleeding that occurred approximately 2 hours earlier. It results from the breakdown of blood in the stomach due to digestive enzymes, giving it a coffee-ground appearance. Choice A is incorrect because coffee-ground emesis indicates older, partially digested blood, not fresh active bleeding. Choice B is incorrect as gastric lavage is not indicated for coffee-ground emesis. Choice D is incorrect because a transfusion of packed RBCs is not the immediate management for this presentation.

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