Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function - ML3

A client with a gastrointestinal condition asks why the mouth needs to be examined. Which response will the nurse make?

"Changes in the mouth can help explain why your condition is occurring."

When preparing a client for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen, which statement would indicate the need to notify the health care provider?

"I really don't like to be in small, enclosed spaces."

A client is scheduled for an ultrasound of the abdomen. Which statement indicates that teaching provided to the client to prepare for the test was effective?

"I will not eat or drink for 8 to 12 hours before the test."

A home care nurse is caring for a client with reports of epigastric discomfort who is scheduled for a barium swallow. Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of the test?

"I'll avoid eating or drinking anything 6 to 8 hours before the test."

A client asks the nurse why the physician ordered the blood test carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The nurse answers:

"It indicates if a cancer is present."

The nurse asks a client to point to where pain is felt. The client asks why this is important. What is the nurse's best response?

"Often the area of pain is referred from another area."

The nurse is caring for a client recovering from an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Which of the following client symptoms would require further nursing assessment?

Abdominal distention

Which of the following is the primary function of the small intestine?

Absorption

The nurse is preparing the client for an assessment of the abdomen. What should the nurse complete prior to this assessment?

Ask the client to empty the bladder.

Which of the following is the most definitive means of assessing for liver disease?

Biopsy

The nurse is to obtain a stool specimen from a client who reported that he is taking iron supplements. The nurse would expect the stool to be which color?

Black

A client reports a history of bleeding hemorrhoids to the nurse. Which observation supports the client's statement?

Blood streaks on stool

During a colonoscopy with moderate sedation, the patient groans with obvious discomfort and begins bleeding from the rectum. The patient is diaphoretic and has an increase in abdominal girth from distention. What complication of this procedure is the nurse aware may be occurring?

Bowel perforation

When examining the skin of a client who is dehydrated due to fluid losses from the gastrointestinal tract, which of the following would be most important?

Checking if the mucous membranes are dry

A client is scheduled for several diagnostic tests to evaluate gastrointestinal function. After teaching the client about these tests, the nurse determines that the client has understood the teaching when the client identifies which test as not requiring the use of a contrast medium?

Colonoscopy

A nurse is assessing a client for GI dysfunction. What is the most common symptom in a client with GI dysfunction?

Dyspepsia

The nurse is preparing to educate a group of students on a gastrointestinal assessment. Which common condition will the nurse assess for in the client with gastrointestinal disorder?

Dyspepsia

A nurse is preparing a client with Crohn's disease for a barium enema. What should the nurse do the day before the test?

Encourage plenty of fluids.

A few hours after eating hot and spicy chicken wings, a client presents with lower chest pain. He wonders if he is having a heart attack. How should the nurse proceed first?

Further investigate the initial complaint.

A client is being scheduled for a gastric analysis test. The nurse knows that which conditions can be diagnosed from this type of test? Select all that apply.

Gastric ulcer Gastric cancer Duodenal ulcer Pernicious anemia

The nurse is assessing a client who is stating gastrointestinal upset and a feeling of bloating. Which type of meal would the nurse anticipate causing these types of symptoms?

Hamburger and French fries

A client with abdominal pain is scheduled for a CT scan of the abdomen with contrast. Which assessment will the nurse complete before transporting the client for the diagnostic test?

History of allergies

Gastrin has which of the following effects on gastrointestinal (GI) motility?

Increased motility of the stomach

A client is scheduled for an upper gastrointestinal barium study. Which teaching will the nurse provide for the client to prepare for this diagnostic test?

Ingest nothing by mouth after midnight.

A client is diagnosed with megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. The health care provider begins the client on cyanocobalamin (Betalin-12), 100 mcg I.M. daily. Which substance influences vitamin B12 absorption?

Intrinsic factor

A focused GI assessment begins with a complete history and physical examination. Identify the quadrant of the abdomen to be palpated or percussed for a patient with pancreatitis.

Left upper

After 20 seconds of auscultating for bowel sounds on a client recovering from abdominal surgery, the nurse hears nothing. What should the nurse do based on the assessment findings?

Listen longer for the sounds.

A nurse is giving a client barium swallow test. What is the most important assessment a nurse would make to ensure that a client does not retain any barium after a barium swallow?

Monitoring the stool passage and its color.

The nurse is working with clients with digestive tract disorders. Which of the following organs does the nurse realize has effects as an exocrine gland and an endocrine gland?

Pancreas

Which of the following is an enzyme secreted by the gastric mucosa?

Pepsin

A client undergoing a diagnostic examination for gastrointestinal disorder was given polyethylene glycol/electrolyte solution as a part of the test preparation. Which of the following measures should the nurse take once the solution is administered?

Permit the client to drink only clear liquids.

Following ingestion of carrots or beets, the nurse would expect which alteration in stool color?

Red

A client with a gastrointestinal disorder is scheduled for abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Which teaching will the nurse provide to prepare the client for this test? Select all that apply.

Remove all jewelry and metal from the body. Take nothing by mouth for 6 to 8 hours before the test. Expect the test to take 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

The instructor has just finished teaching a group of students about the various organs of the upper gastrointestinal tract and possible disorders. The instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which structure as possibly being affected?

Stomach

Specific disease processes and ingestion of certain foods and medications may change the appearance of the stool. If blood is shed in sufficient quantities into the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, it produces which change in the stool appearance?

Tarry-black

What would the nurse recognize as preventing a client from being able to take a fecal occult blood test (FOBT)?

The client has hemorrhoidal bleeding

A client receives a local anesthetic to suppress the gag reflex for a diagnostic procedure of the upper GI tract. Which nursing intervention is advised for this patient?

The client should not be given any food and fluids until the gag reflex returns.

A client is to have an upper GI procedure with barium ingestion and abdominal ultrasonography. While scheduling these diagnostic tests, the nurse must consider which factor?

The ultrasonography should be scheduled before the GI procedure.

The nurse prepares a client for a barium enema. The nurse should place the client on which diet prior to the procedure?

clear liquids day before

Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder characterized by pulmonary and pancreatic dysfunction, usually appears in young children but can also affect adults. If the pancreas was functioning correctly, where would the bile and pancreatic enzymes enter the GI system?

duodenum

The major carbohydrate that tissue cells use as fuel is

glucose.

The nurse determines one or two bowel sounds in 2 minutes should be documented as

hypoactive.

Which term describes a gastric secretion that combines with vitamin B12 so that it can be absorbed?

intrinsic factor

When bowel sounds are heard about every 15 seconds, the nurse would record that the bowel sounds are

normal.

A client tells the nurse that the stool was colored yellow. The nurse assesses the client for

recent foods ingested.

The client describes a test previously completed to detect a small bowel obstruction prior to admission to the hospital. The client states that the test involved insertion of a tube through the nose and lasted over 6 hours. The nurse determines which test name should be documented?

upper GI enteroclysis

The nurse recognizes which change of the GI system is an age-related change?

weakened gag reflex

The nurse recognizes which change of the gastrointestinal system is an age-related change?

weakened gag reflex