ATI RN
Gastrointestinal System Nursing Exam Questions
1. A home care nurse is visiting a client with a diagnosis of pernicious anemia that developed as a result of gastric surgery. The nurse instructs the client that because the stomach lining produces a decreased amount of intrinsic factor in this disorder, the client will need
- A. Vitamin B12 injections.
- B. Vitamin B6 injections.
- C. An antibiotic.
- D. An antacid.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A lack of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb vitamin B12 occurs in pernicious anemia. Vitamin B12 is needed for the maturation of red blood cells. Vitamin B6 is not necessarily needed for pernicious anemia and can be taken orally. An antibiotic and antacids may be prescribed for certain types of gastric ulcers.
2. Claire, a 33 y.o. is on your floor with a possible bowel obstruction. Which intervention is priority for her?
- A. Obtain daily weights.
- B. Measure abdominal girth.
- C. Keep strict intake and output.
- D. Encourage her to increase fluids.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: For a patient with a possible bowel obstruction, measuring abdominal girth is a priority to monitor for signs of worsening obstruction or distention.
3. When teaching a community group about measures to prevent colon cancer, which instruction should the nurse include?
- A. Limit fat intake to 20% to 25% of your total daily calories.
- B. Include 15 to 20 grams of fiber into your daily diet.
- C. Get an annual rectal examination after age 35.
- D. Undergo sigmoidoscopy annually after age 50.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Limiting fat intake is a recommended measure to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Including fiber, undergoing annual rectal examinations, and sigmoidoscopy are also important, but limiting fat intake is directly related to reducing cancer risk.
4. The nurse is evaluating the plan of care for a client with peptic ulcer disease with a nursing diagnosis of Acute Pain. The nurse would determine that the client has not met the expected outcomes if the client states
- A. That pain is relieved with histamine H2 receptor antagonists.
- B. That irritating foods have been eliminated from the diet.
- C. The client is being awakened at 2 AM with heartburn.
- D. The client has absence of pain before meals.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Expected outcomes for the client with peptic ulcer disease experiencing pain include elimination of irritating foods from the diet, ability to take prescribed medications that will reduce pain, reporting that the pain is relieved or prevented with medication, and an ability to sleep through the night without pain. The client who continues to be awakened by pain requires further modification of medication therapy, which may include adjustment of timing of histamine H2 receptor antagonist or an additional dose of antacid before the time when pain awakens the client.
5. Kevin has a history of peptic ulcer disease and vomits coffee-ground emesis. What does this indicate?
- A. He has fresh, active upper GI bleeding.
- B. He needs immediate saline gastric lavage.
- C. His gastric bleeding occurred 2 hours earlier.
- D. He needs a transfusion of packed RBC’s.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Coffee-ground emesis indicates that the gastric bleeding occurred 2 hours earlier.
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