Chapter 43: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function

Amylase

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

Absorption

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

Liver

While palpating a client's right upper quadrant (RUQ), the nurse would expect to find which structure?

20%

Blood flow to the GI tract is approximately what percentage of the total cardiac output?

Atrophy of the gastric mucosa

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?

Bowel perforation

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?

The ultrasonography should be scheduled before the GI procedure.

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?

Intrinsic factor

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?

Colonoscopy

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?

Pyloric sphincter

A group of students are studying for an examination on the gastrointestinal (GI) system and are reviewing the structures of the esophagus and stomach. The students demonstrate understanding of the material when they identify which of the following as the opening between the stomach and duodenum?

Monitoring the stool passage and its color.

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?

Mouth

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

upper GI enteroclysis

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?

red plaque on undersurface of tongue

The nurse inspects a client's tongue. Which finding would the nurse evaluate as an indication of potential oral cancer?

Ask the client to empty the bladder.

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

Supine with knees flexed

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?

Black

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?

Pancreas

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?

clear liquids day before

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

Checking if the mucous membranes are dry

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?