18- GI Alterations

The patient admitted with acute pancreatitis is demonstrating severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and ascites. Using the Ranson classification criteria, the nurse determines that this patient has what mortality rate?

✓ 15%

The patient is admitted with the diagnosis of GI bleeding. The patient's heart rate is 140 beats per minute with a blood pressure of 84/44 mm Hg. What do these values possibly indicate?

✓ Approximately 25% loss of total blood volume.

The nurse is caring for a patient who is being treated for peptic ulcer disease. Suddenly, the patient yells, "my abdomen is killing me". When the nurse notes that the patient's abdomen is rigid what action should be taken next?

✓ Call the health care provider (PCP) immediately.

The patient is getting neomycin for treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. While the patient is receiving this medication, it is especially important that the nurse do what action?

✓ Evaluate renal function studies daily.

The nurse is caring for a patient with active GI bleeding. Estimated blood loss is 1,000 mL. Which of the following assessments would the nurse expect to find with this amount of blood loss?

✓ Heart rate > than 120 beats per minute. *Ex: HR 125

The critical care nurse is caring for a patient with the diagnosis of sepsis. The patient is on a ventilator and is receiving a proton pump inhibitors (PPI) to reduce the risk for a stress ulcer. In this scenario, a stress ulcer is likely secondary to what?

✓ Ischemia associated with sepsis.

The nurse is caring for a critically ill patient with respiratory failure who is being treated with mechanical ventilation. As part of the patient's care to prevent stress ulcers, the nurse would provide what intervention? (Select all that apply.) "3"

✓ Proton pump inhibitors ✓ Anticholinergic drugs ✓ Antacids

When caring for the patient with upper GI bleeding, the nurse assesses for which of the following? (Select all that apply.) "3"

✓ Severity of blood loss ✓ Hemodynamic stability ✓ Necessity for fluid resuscitation

After gastric bypass surgery, the patient is getting vitamin B12 via injection. The patient asks why the vitamin can't be given by mouth. What explanation should the nurse provide?

✓ The patient may not have enough intrinsic factor for normal absorption.

Lactulose is considered the first-line treatment for hepatic encephalopathy and works by what process?

✓ Trapping ammonia in the bowel for excretion.