Chapter 27 GI system
15. The nurse is caring for a patient who is complaining of postoperative gas pain. What intervention should nurse implement? a. Assist the patient with ambulation. b. Apply a cold compress on the abdomen. c. Offer a cup of coffee or tea. d. Offer chilled vegetable juice.
ANS: A Ambulation is the most effective method for helping a patient expel gas. Hot or cold beverages and cold compresses will increase gas. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 640
17. The nurse is talking with a patient who has been experiencing nausea and vomiting. The patient indicates an interest in using alternative therapies for the condition. Which product may aid in nausea management? a. Ginger b. Ginseng c. Chamomile d. Soy
ANS: A Ginger has been used for centuries in Asia to combat nausea and vomiting, motion sickness, and dyspepsia. It is available candied in capsules, fluid extract, and tablets, and tincture or as fresh ginger root that can be grated and used to make tea. Ginger may decrease the action of histamine (H2) receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors and may increase absorption of medications taken orally. Ginger may decrease the effect of antidiabetic medications. It should not be used during pregnancy or lactation. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 639 OBJ: 9 TOP: Ginger for Nausea
10. When assessing a patient's bowel sounds, nurse auscultates loud bowel sounds in each quadrant every 3 seconds. The nurse understands that these findings could indicate that the patient is experiencing which condition? a. Diarrhea b. Paralytic ileus c. Vomiting d. Constipation
ANS: A Loud, rapid bowel sounds are indicative of hypermobility, which could result in diarrhea. Absent bowel sounds are associated with paralytic ileus. Normal bowel sounds present as soft gurgles and clicks every 5 to 15 seconds. Hypoactive bowel sounds indicate decreased motility and could indicate that the patient is constipated? REF: 636
5. The nurse is caring for a patient who complains, "I don't see why I can't have a CT scan instead of the expensive MRI!" Which response is most appropriate for the nurse to make? a. "The MRI provides better contrast between normal and pathologic tissue." b. "The MRI requires less analysis and is easier to read." c. "The MRI produces a digital image that can be transmitted via e-mail." d. "The MRI exposes the patient to less radiation."
ANS: A Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radiofrequency signals to determine how hydrogen atoms behave in the magnetic field. In addition, the MRI provides a better contrast than computed tomography (CT) between healthy tissues and pathologic tissues. REF: 631, Table 27-1
14. The nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of an assigned patient. The serum bilirubin is 2.8 mg/dL. The nurse anticipates that the patient's urine will display which finding? a. Dark color b. Low specific gravity c. Very scant amount d. Foul odor
ANS: A Normal serum bilirubin is 0.1 to 1.2 mg/dL. Jaundice is present at readings above 2.5 mg/dL. The patient who is jaundiced will have dark, tea-colored urine. Specific gravity refers to the concentration of the urine. The amount and odor of urine will not be directly influenced by the bilirubin level. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 637
12. The nurse is percussing a patient's abdomen and hears a dull thud in the right upper quadrant. This sound indicates that nurse is percussing over which location? a. The liver b. The small intestine c. The stomach d. The lungs
ANS: A Percussion is performed by placing the middle finger of one hand on the abdomen and striking the finger lightly below the knuckle and listening for the pitch of sound produced. A dull thud would be heard over the liver. Tympany would be heard over the stomach and intestines, and resonance would be heard over lung tissue. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 637 OBJ: 1 (clinical) TOP: Abdominal Assessment: Percussion
8. The nurse is caring for a patient who returns to the floor at lunch time after undergoing an upper GI (UGI series). Which action is most important for the nurse to perform first? a. Administer a laxative. b. Educate the patient about the possibility of white stools. c. Offer the patient a small snack. d. Provide oral care.
ANS: A The contrast media used in the series features barium that can harden and lead to an impaction. Patients should have a bowel movement quickly after the procedure to eliminate the medium from the body. While fluids and snacks or meal trays should be given as quickly as possible, patients should be educated about the possibility of white stools for several days postprocedure, and oral care should be provided, these interventions are of lesser importance since they do not directly work to quickly prevent a postprocedure complication. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: 630, Table 27-1
13. During a morning assessment, the nurse observes that a patient displays bulging flanks when supine with the knees flexed. Which action should the nurse take next? a. Measure the patient's abdominal girth. b. Auscultate each quadrant of the abdomen for 5 minutes. c. Document the finding. d. Notify the charge nurse.
ANS: A The nurse's initial assessment indicates fluid accumulation. The nurse needs to obtain more information, first measuring abdominal girth. The nurse can then percuss from the umbilicus to the flanks to detect fluid shifts, and document all findings. The nurse will only auscultate bowel sounds for 5 minutes in each quadrant if bowel sounds are not heard before then. It is unnecessary to notify the charge nurse at this time. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 637
9. The nurse is assessing a patient's bowel sounds. After auscultating each quadrant for 30 seconds, the nurse fails to hear any sounds. How should the nurse document this finding? a. Absent bowel sounds b. Hypoactive bowel sounds c. Active bowel sounds d. Hyperactive bowel sounds
ANS: B Hypoactive bowel sounds can be noted in the medical record when no sounds are heard after listening in each of the four quadrants for 30 seconds. For bowel sounds to be considered absent, it is necessary to verify that no sounds are heard after listening in each of the four quadrants for 5 minutes. If hyperactive, high-pitched sounds are heard in one quadrant, and decreased sounds are heard in another quadrant, assess for nausea and vomiting, as the patient may have an intestinal obstruction. REF: 636, Clinical Cues
16. The nurse is planning care for a patient who has experienced moderate diarrhea for 3 days. Which collaborative intervention is most important to include in the plan of care? a. Place the patient on NPO status. b. Limit the patient's diet to clear liquids. c. Administer parenteral nutrition. d. Restrict the patient's diet to soft foods only.
ANS: B If diarrhea is moderate, only clear liquids are permitted by mouth. If the diarrhea is severe, nothing is given by mouth until it subsides. Severe, long-term diarrhea may require the use of total parenteral nutrition. When diarrhea is caused by infection, stool cultures and antibiotics may be necessary. As the condition improves, the diet is advanced. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 641 OBJ: 5 TOP: Diarrhea KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
1. The home health nurse is caring for a patient with tuberculosis who is taking rifampin and isoniazid (INH). The nurse should carefully monitor the patient for which potential side effects? a.Gallstones b.Liver disorders c.Bleeding ulcers d.Esophagitis
ANS: B REF 629 Rifampin and INH are both hepatotoxic.
7. The nurse caring for an 80-year-old woman who is undergoing the extensive bowel preparation for a colonoscopy. The nurse should most closely monitor the patient for which potential complication? a. Diarrhea b. Metabolic acidosis c. Fatigue d. Dyspnea
ANS: B The older patient is especially at risk for problems of electrolyte imbalance, fluid overload, or dehydration when undergoing preparation for diagnostic tests that require a fasting state and/or bowel cleansing. Metabolic acidosis can occur when there is a large volume loss of bowel content. Bowel preparation causes diarrhea and may cause fatigue; bowel preparation should not cause dyspnea. REF: 629, Older Adult Care Points
18. The nurse is caring for a patient who has been experiencing severe diarrhea and can now resume solid foods. The nurse educates the patient about appropriate food choices. Which food choice indicates that the nurse's teaching has been successful? a. Whole-grain rice b. Wheat toast c. Applesauce d. Grapes
ANS: C When a patient has severe diarrhea and is allowed to resume solid foods, the foods should be slowly introduced in order to help thicken the stool. Foods such as applesauce, pretzels, bananas, white rice, white toast, and yogurt are beneficial. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 641, Nutrition Considerations
6. The nurse is preparing to administer liquid laxative to a patient in preparation for a colonoscopy. Which action should the nurse take? a. Offer a small snack. b. Take the patient's temperature. c. Mix the laxative with orange juice. d. Chill the laxative and pour it over ice.
ANS: D Chilling the laxative or pouring it over ice makes the drink more palatable and easier to swallow. The nurse should not offer any food, as the accuracy of the test depends on adequate bowel prep. The laxative does not affect the patient's temperature. Mixing the laxative with another substance can make it difficult to judge how much the patient actually consumed if any liquid is remaining. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 629
4. The nurse is obtaining a history of a patient with hepatitis A. Which question is most appropriate for the nurse to ask? a. "If using drugs, do you share needles?" b. "Do you always practice safe sex?" c. "Have you traveled to Canada in the last month?" d. "Do you eat shellfish or oysters often?"
ANS: D Shellfish and mollusks can be contaminated by living in feces-contaminated water. Drug use and unprotected sex are not part of the etiology of hepatitis A but are for hepatitis B. Travel to Canada is not associated with hepatitis A. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 629, Health Promotion
11. The nurse is reviewing a student nurse's charting and notes that the student has documented absent bowel sounds. The nurse reminds the student that in order to document absent bowel sounds, one must auscultate each quadrant at what period of time? a. 30 seconds b. 1 minute c. 2 minutes d. 5 minutes
ANS: D The criterion for the documentation of absent bowel sounds is that each quadrant is auscultated for 5 minutes. REF: 636
19. The nurse is performing preprocedure teaching for a patient scheduled to undergo a liver biopsy. After listening to the information, the patient states, "I am so scared. I just don't know if I can do this procedure." Which response is best? a. "The procedure will only last about 15 minutes." b. "Most patients say it feels similar to a punch in the shoulder." c. "You do not have to have the procedure." d. "I understand that you are afraid. Tell me more about your concerns."
ANS: D The nurse should acknowledge the patient's feelings and promote therapeutic communication. While all of the other statements are true, none of them investigate the underlying cause of the patient's fear. Reassurance about the length of the procedure or the sensation that the patient might experience may be indicated after the patient explains more about specific concerns. While the patient can refuse to have the procedure, dismissing the patient is not an appropriate or therapeutic statement. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: 633, Table 27-1
1. The nurse is caring for multiple patients. Does the nurse determine which patient has the highest risk for developing gallstones? a.A 37-year-old white man of normal weight on long-term corticosteroids for asthma. b.A 42-year-old African American man of normal weight who has smoked for 25 years. c.A 46-year-old Indonesian woman who is under normal weight and has recently had radiation treatments. d.A 50-year-old obese Mexican American woman who has type 1 diabetes.
ANS: D A 50-year-old obese Mexican American woman who has type 1 diabetes. Obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), rapid weight loss, and Crohn's disease increase the risk for the development of gallstones. Native Americans and Mexican Americans have an ethnic predisposition to gallstones. REF:627
The nurse cautions that constant stress can cause which alteration to the gastrointestinal (GI) system? a Slowed Gi mobility resulting in constipation b reversed peristalsis resulting in projectile vomiting c increased digestive juices resulting in a gastric ulcer d decreased digestive juices resulting in ineffective metabolism
c increased digestive juices resulting in a gastric ulcer stress increases the gastric secretions which irritate and finally ulcerated gastric mucosal lining
