GI Assessment NCLEX Style Questions
An older patient diagnosed with bacterial gastroenteritis reports abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue for the past 24 hours. The nurse should monitor the patient for what priority assessment? A. Dehydration B. Hypokalemia C. Hypernatremia D. Perineal skin breakdown
A. Dehydration In older adults, dehydration occurs with viral and bacterial gastroenteritis and may require hospitalization. Electrolyte imbalances are also
After abdominal surgery, which question should the nurse ask the patient to determine whether peristaltic movement is returning? A. "Have you passed flatus?" B. "Are you hungry" C. "Do you have any nausea?" D. "Is your pain level manageable?"
A. Have you passed flatus Evidence indicates that the patient's report of passing flatus is the best indicator of whether peristaltic movement is returning after surgery
When administering a new GI medication to an older patient, the nurse anticipates what? A. A higher-than-normal dose may be needed. B. Close monitoring is needed because toxic levels may develop. C. Older adults always require a lower-than-normal dose than younger patients. D. Nausea and vomiting may develop rapidly and are common side effects in older adults.
B. Close monitoring may be needed The older patient should be monitored closely for adverse effects of all medications, even those administered in normal doses, because toxic levels can develop rapidly. Medications should never be increased to greater-than-normal levels because age-related changes in the liver and intestinal absorption may cause development of toxic drug levels. The patient also should not receive drug doses that are lower than normal. Nausea and vomiting in response to medication are not expected side effects of a patient's use of prescribed medication in appropriate dosages
Which patient statement would alert the nurse to perform a thorough GI history and focused assessment? A."I don't like the taste of spicy foods." B."I got dentures four years ago." C."I experience occasional constipation." D."I take ibuprofen three times daily for arthritis."
D. "I take ibuprofen three times daily for arthritis." -Large amounts of aspirin or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can predispose the patient to peptic ulcer disease and GI bleeding
A pt. received surgery to remove a tumor and place a sigmoid colostomy. Five days later the stoma is functioning. What stool assessment does the nurse anticipate? A. Very little stool and mostly gas B. Diarrhea liquid stool C. Pasty stool D. More solid stool
D. More solid stool Immediate postoperative stool may be liquid, but it becomes more solid depending on the location of the colostomy. Stool from an ascending colon colostomy will be more liquid, stool from a transverse colon colostomy will be more pasty, and stool from a descending or sigmoid colostomy is more solid and similar to the usual stool expelled from the rectum.
A patient has recently been placed on corticosteroids as treatment for ulcerative colitis. The nurse should monitor the patient's laboratory results for evidence of which condition? A. Hyperkalemia B. Hypernatremia C. Hypercalcemia D. Hyperglycemia
D. hyperglycemia Long-term adverse effects that commonly occur with steroid therapy include hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer disease, and increased risk for infection.
