Chapter 45-GI
The nurse is doing teaching with the caregivers of toddler and preschool aged-children. One of the caregivers tells the group that her child had diarrhea and she was told that it was caused by giardiasis. Which statement made by the caregiver indicates the most likely situation in which the child contacted the disorder?
"He attends a day care center four days a week while I am at work."
The nurse is teaching an in-service program to a group of nurses on the topic of children diagnosed with Kwashiorkor. The nurses in the group make the following statements. Which statement is most accurate related to the diagnosis of Kwashiorkor?
"It is important to increase the intake of protein for these children."
A nurse is assessing the stool of an infant during a clinic visit. The nurse determines that the stool is normal based on assessment of which characteristics? Select all that apply.
-Lack of odor -pH of 7.4 -Negative for occult blood
A nurse is assessing an infant who has been vomiting and experiencing diarrhea. Which findings would indicate to the nurse that the infant is experiencing severe dehydration? Select all that apply.
-Sunken fontanels - Bradycardia - Cool mottled extremities
The nurse is determining maintenance fluid requirements for a child who weighs 25 kg. How much fluid would the child need per day?
1,600 mL
The nurse is providing care for a child who has been diagnosed with rickets. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
Administration of adequate vitamin D
When examining the abdomen of a child, which technique would the nurse use last?
Palpation
The incidence of vitamin D deficiency in the United States is less than in many countries. What is the most likely reason for this?
Some foods in the U.S. have been fortified with vitamin D.
A child with severe diarrhea cannot drink and requires intravenous rehydration. After beginning the therapy, the nurse determines that potassium can be added to the intravenous fluid because which of the following has occurred?
The child has voided.
The nurse is collecting data on a child who has been nutritionally deprived. The nurse notes that the child is irritable and listless. The foster caregiver reports that the child says she is not hungry and has been vomiting. It is discovered that the child has beriberi. This disease is due to a deficiency in which of the following?
Thiamine
Constipation may be initially caused by psychological problems.
True
Pyloric stenosis has been diagnosed in a 3-week-old male infant who has frequent vomiting after feedings. An important preoperative nursing intervention is:
maintaining NPO status while restoring hydration and electrolyte balance.
In caring for an infant diagnosed with pyloric stenosis, the nurse would anticipate that she would:
prepare the infant for surgery.
The nurse is reinforcing dietary teaching with the caregiver of a child diagnosed with celiac syndrome. The caregivers make the following statements. Which statement indicates a need for further teaching regarding the dietary restrictions for the child with celiac syndrome?
"She loves hot dogs, and we always cut hers up into small pieces."
Which type of nutrition does the nurse anticipate initiating when an infant with gastroenteritis and dehydration begins solid foods?
Oral rehydration solutions
The nurse caring for an 18-month-old infant with Meckel diverticulum knows that the most common clinical manifestation of this condition is:
Painless rectal bleeding
The school nurse is working with a 10-year-old girl with recurrent abdominal pain. The girl's teacher has been less than understanding about the frequent absences and trips to the nurse's office. How should the nurse respond?
"The pain she is having is real."
The nurse is discussing the treatment of congenital aganglionic megacolon with the caregivers of a child diagnosed with this disorder. Which statement is the best explanation of the treatment for this diagnosis?
"The treatment for the disorder will be a surgical procedure."
A nurse is developing a teaching plan for an adolescent diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Which would the nurse include? Select all that apply.
"You need to avoid acidic foods like oranges and grapefruits." "Eating smaller portions might be helpful." "Try sleeping with your upper body elevated on a foam wedge."
The nurse is teaching an in-service program to a group of nurses on the topic of gastrointestinal disorders. The nurses in the group make the following statements. Which statement is most accurate related to the diagnosis of congenital aganglionic megacolon?
A partial or complete intestinal obstruction occurs.
The nurse is caring for an infant with a temporary ileostomy. As part of the plan of care, the nurse monitors for skin breakdown around the stoma. If redness occurs, what would be most appropriate to promote healing and prevent further skin breakdown?
Apply a barrier/healing cream or paste on the skin.
The nurse is doing dietary teaching with the caregivers of a child diagnosed with idiopathic celiac disease. Of the following foods, which would most likely be appropriate in the child's diet?
Bananas
A child is diagnosed with intussusception. The nurse anticipates that what action would be attempted first to reduce this condition?
Barium enema
The nurse recognizes that in the disorder referred to as rickets, the child has a lack of vitamin D. Because of the lack of vitamin D, the absorption of which of the following is decreased?
Calcium and phosphorus
The nurse performs an abdominal assessment of an infant and observes a prominent venous pattern. The nurse documents the findings and anticipates that this is a sign of which?
Cirrhosis of the liver
In understanding the disease of marasmus when seen in children, the nurse recognizes that the disease is caused because of which of the following?
Deficiency of protein and calories
A child is admitted with a temperature, 101.2°F (38.4°C); pulse rate 100 beats/min; respirations 24 breaths/min. On admission the pain is localized in right lower quadrant. Legs are drawn up against the abdomen. Bowel sounds are sluggish. Rebound tenderness is present. White blood cell count of 17,000/mm3. Ultrasound confirms appendicitis. Which instruction would the nurse give to the child and the parent?
Do not rub or put pressure on the abdomen.
The nurse is caring for a child admitted with gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Which clinical manifestation would likely be seen in this child?
Effortless vomiting just after the child has eaten
The nurse admits an infant who is nutritionally deprived. The infant is weak and seems somewhat uninterested in food. In developing the infant's plan of care, how often will the nurse most likely plan to feed this infant?
Every 2 or 3 hours
The pH of blood is normally slightly acidic, ranging from 6.85 to 6.95.
False
A father brings Jacob, age 2, to the health clinic with complaints of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The father tells the nurse that he is a single parent and Jacob is enrolled in a local daycare center. Based on this information, what gastrointestinal condition might the nurse suspect?
Gastroenteritis
The parents of a 6-week-old boy come to the clinic for evaluation because the infant has been vomiting. The parents report that the vomiting has been increasing in frequency and forcefulness over the last week. The mother says, "Sometimes, it seems like it just bursts out of his mouth." A diagnosis of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is suspected. When performing the physical examination, what would the nurse most likely find?
Hard, moveable, olive-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant
A nurse prepares a menu for a client with Crohn disease. What is the focus of dietary management for this disease?
High carbohydrate, high protein
The nurse is caring for a child with a diagnosis of pyloric stenosis during the preoperative phase of the child's treatment. What is the highest priority at this time?
Improving hydration
The nurse is teaching an in-service program to a group of nurses on the topic of gastrointestinal disorders. The nurses in the group make the following statements. Which statement is most accurate related to the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux?
In this disorder the sphincter that leads into the stomach is relaxed.
A 9-month-old girl is brought to the emergency room with what appears to be bouts of intense abdominal pain 15 minutes apart in which she draws up her legs and cries, often accompanied by vomiting. In between the bouts, the child recovers and appears to be without symptoms. Blood is found in the stool. What condition should the nurse suspect in this case?
Intussusception
A young child has presented to the pediatric unit with a swollen abdomen, edema, thin patchy hair, and irritability with growth retardation and muscle wasting. The nurse suspects a malnutrition disorder. The nurse identifies this child to most likely have which condition?
Kwashiorkor
The nurse has developed a plan of care for a 12-month-old hospitalized with dehydration as a result of rotavirus. Which intervention would the nurse include in the plan of care?
Maintaining the intravenous (IV) fluid rate as ordered
The nurse is discussing the disease known as pellagra. This disease is due to a deficiency in which of the following?
Niacin
A mother calls the doctor's office and tells the nurse that she is concerned because her 4-month-old keeps "spitting up" with every feeding. What would indicate that the child is regurgitating as opposed to vomiting?
Only occurs with feeding
The nurse is caring for a child admitted with congenital aganglionic megacolon. Which clinical manifestation would likely have been noted in the child with this diagnosis?
Persistent constipation
A 12-year-old boy has just undergone a liver transplantation and is recovering. After performing a finger stick puncture and assessing the results, the nurse administers a 10% solution of dextrose IV. What is the correct rationale for this intervention?
Prevention of hypoglycemia
A mother is alarmed because her 6-week-old boy has begun vomiting almost immediately after every feeding. In the past week, the vomiting has grown more forceful, with the vomit projecting several feet from his mouth. He is always hungry again just after vomiting. At the physician's office, the nurse holds the child and gives him a bottle of water. While he drinks, she notes an olive-size lump in his right abdomen. Which condition should the nurse suspect in this child?
Pyloric stenosis
A child is diagnosed with intussusception. The nurse would prepare the child and family for which of the following?
Surgery
What occurs in the gastrointestinal system of the child with Hirschsprung disease?
There is a partial or complete mechanical obstruction in the intestine.
The nurse completes a 1-month-old's feeding and sits the infant up to burp. The infant vomits back the feeding. Which is the nurse's primary concern?
aspiration
Nurses will need to teach the parents of the infant being treated for Hirschsprung disease (aganglionic megacolon) to:
care for a temporary colostomy.
The nurse has admitted a child with a diagnosis of severe gastroenteritis. To help prevent the risk of transmitting infection to other clients, the nurse should:
follow standard precautions.
How will the nurse respond to parents who express regret that they did not seek care for their young child early enough to prevent perforation of the child's appendix?
"Symptoms are not always clear to any of us. Also the thin wall of the appendix in a child perforates readily."
A child with cirrhosis of the liver is admitted to the acute care facility in preparation for a liver transplant. When completing the physical examination, what nursing assessment findings related to the liver would be documented? Select all that apply.
- Jaundice - Ascites - Spider angiomas
A child weighs 15 kg. How many milliliters of fluid per 24 hours does this child require? Record your answer using a whole number.
1250
A neonatal nurse teaches students how to recognize gastrointestinal disorders in infants. The nurse tells the students that failure of the newborn to pass meconium in the first 24 hours after birth may indicate what disease?
Hirschsprung disease
Noah is an 18-month-old who is brought to the ER with flu-like symptoms. He is diagnosed with pneumonia secondary to aspiration of stomach contents. The nurse explains to the parents that pneumonia is a condition that often occurs secondary to:
gastroesophageal reflux disease.
