Adult Health Ch. 43

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

weakened gag reflex

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."

A client presented with gastrointestinal bleeding 2 days ago and continues to have problems. The health care provider has ordered a visualization of the small intestine via a capsule endoscopy. What will the nurse include in the client education about this procedure?

"You will need to swallow a capsule."

When completing a nutritional assessment of a patient who is admitted for a GI disorder, the nurse notes a recent history of dietary intake. This is based on the knowledge that a portion of digested waste products can remain in the rectum for how many days after a meal is digested?

3 days

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

Which of the following digestive enzymes aids in the digesting of starch?

Amylase

An older adult client is admitted to an acute care facility for treatment of an acute flare-up of a chronic gastrointestinal condition. In addition to assessing the client for complications of the current illness, the nurse monitors for age-related changes in the gastrointestinal tract. Which age-related change increases the risk of anemia?

Atrophy of the gastric mucosa

The nurse is performing a focused abdominal assessment of a client with a history of bowel obstruction. The nurse has positioned the client appropriately and inspected the client's abdomen carefully. What action should the nurse perform next? Perform percussion, if tolerated

Auscultate the client's abdomen

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

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

Pepsin

The nurse is assisting the health care provider with a colonoscopy for a client with rectal bleeding. The health care provider requests the nurse to administer glucagon during the procedure. Why is the nurse administering this medication during the procedure?

To relax colonic musculature and reduce spasm.

While completing an abdominal assessment, the nurse will use which landmark as the upper boundary for auscultating bowel sounds?

Xiphoid process

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

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

recent foods ingested.

Which procedure is performed to examine and visualize the lumen of the small bowel?

small bowel enteroscopy

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

The nurse auscultates the abdomen to assess bowel sounds. She documents five to six sounds heard in less than 30 seconds. How does the nurse document the bowel sounds?

Hyperactive

The nurse is working on a general medical unit. A client is scheduled for an upper gastrointestinal series. Upon return to the nursing unit, what does the nurse identify as the client goal?

Increase the amount of fluids

The nurse is assessing the abdomen of the client with an undiagnosed disorder. In which sequence would the nurse conduct the abdominal assessment? Use all options.

Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation

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 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.

Which diagnostic produces images of the body by detecting the radiation emitted from radioactive substances?

Positron emission tomography (PET)

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

Red

The nurse determines a client scheduled to undergo an abdominal ultrasonography should receive which instruction?

Restrict eating of solid food for 6 to 8 hours before the test.

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

The nurse is caring for a man who has experienced a spinal cord injury. Throughout his recovery, the client expects to gain control of his bowels. The nurse's best response to this client would be which of the following?

"Having a bowel movement is a spinal reflex requiring intact nerve fibers. Yours are not intact."

When examining the abdomen of a client with reports of nausea and vomiting, what would the nurse do first?

Inspection

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

When assisting with preparing a client scheduled for a barium swallow, which of the following would be appropriate to include?

Avoid smoking for at least 12 to 24 hours before the procedure.

The nurse is performing an assessment of a patient. During the assessment the patient informs the nurse of some recent "stomach trouble." What does the nurse know is the most common symptom of patients with GI dysfunction?

Dyspepsia

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

What part of the GI tract begins the digestion of food?

Mouth

The nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a percutaneous liver biopsy. Which diagnostic test is obtained prior?

Prothrombin time (PT)

A nurse is aware that both the sympathetic and parasympathetic portions of the autonomic nervous system affect GI motility. What are the actions of the sympathetic nervous system? Select all that apply.

Creates an inhibitory effect on the GI tract Causes blood vessel constriction Decreases gastric motility

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.

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

The nurse is assisting the health care provider with a gastric acid stimulation test for a client. What medication should the nurse prepare to administer subcutaneously to stimulate gastric secretions?

Pentagastrin

The nurse is instructing the client who was newly diagnosed with peptic ulcers. Which of the following diagnostic studies would the nurse anticipate reviewing with the client?

Serum antibodies for H. pylori

After 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 of the following structures as possibly being affected?

Stomach

The nurse is preparing to examine the abdomen of a client who reports a change in bowel pattern. The nurse would place the client in which position?

Supine with knees flexed

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 to administer the lavage solution to a client having a colonoscopy completed. The nurse stops and notifies the physician when noting that the client has which condition?

inflammatory bowel disease

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

intrinsic factor

Which enzyme aids in the digestion of protein?

trypsin

The nurse is investigating a client's report of pain in the duodenal area. Where should the nurse perform the assessment?

Epigastric area and consider possible radiation of pain to the right subscapular region

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

Increased motility of the stomach

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.

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

normal.

A nurse is teaching a client with malabsorption syndrome about the disorder and its treatment. The client asks which part of the GI tract absorbs food. What is the nurse's best response?

small intestine