Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function

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 says:

"It indicates if a cancer is present."

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 digestive enzymes aids in the digesting of starch?

Amylase

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

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 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.

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

Increased motility of the stomach

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

Inspection

Which substance influences vitamin B12 absorption?

Intrinsic factor

What is a barium enema?

It is a radiographic exam of the large intestine during and after the retrograde administration of barium sulfate and/or air (double contrast). It is an X-ray exam that can detect changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (colon). The procedure is also called a colon X-ray.

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

Liver

Which of the following organs does the nurse realize has effects as an exocrine gland and an endocrine gland?

Pancreas

Which part of the GI tract absorbs food?

Small intestine

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.

Which neuroregulator increase gastric acid secretion?

acetylcholine

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

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

do not give any food and fluids until the gag reflex returns

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

What is the recommended order for performing an abdominal examination?

inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation

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

normal

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

red plaque on undersurface of tongue

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