ATI RN
Gastrointestinal System Nursing Exam Questions
1. A nurse is reviewing the orders of a client admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Select the interventions that the nurse would expect to be prescribed for the client.
- A. Small, frequent high-calorie feedings.
- B. Meperidine (Demerol) as prescribed for pain.
- C. Place the client in a side-lying position with the head elevated 45-degrees.
- D. Administer antacids and anticholinergics to suppress gastrointestinal secretions.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct intervention for a client with acute pancreatitis is to prescribe pain medications such as meperidine to manage the abdominal pain, which is a prominent symptom of the condition. The other options are incorrect because: A) Clients with acute pancreatitis are normally placed on NPO (nothing by mouth) status to rest the pancreas, so small, frequent high-calorie feedings are not indicated. C) Placing the client in a side-lying position with the head elevated 45-degrees helps decrease tension on the abdomen and may ease pain, but it is not a standard intervention for acute pancreatitis. D) Administering antacids and anticholinergics to suppress gastrointestinal secretions is not a routine intervention for acute pancreatitis.
2. A client is to take one daily dose of ranitidine (Zantac) at home to treat her peptic ulcer. The nurse knows that the client understands proper drug administration of ranitidine when she says that she will take the drug at which of the following times?
- A. Before meals
- B. With meals
- C. At bedtime
- D. When pain occurs
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Ranitidine (Zantac) is best taken at bedtime to reduce stomach acid production overnight.
3. Fistulas are most common with which of the following bowel disorders?
- A. Crohn’s disease
- B. Diverticulitis
- C. Diverticulosis
- D. Ulcerative colitis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Fistulas are most common in Crohn's disease due to the transmural inflammation that characterizes this condition.
4. During the assessment of a client’s mouth, the nurse notes the absence of saliva. The client is also complaining of pain near the area of the ear. The client has been NPO for several days because of the insertion of an NG tube. Based on these findings, the nurse suspects that the client is developing which of the following mouth conditions?
- A. Stomatitis
- B. Oral candidiasis
- C. Parotitis
- D. Gingivitis
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C, Parotitis. Parotitis, inflammation of the parotid glands, can occur due to the absence of saliva and dehydration, often associated with being NPO and having an NG tube. Stomatitis (choice A) is inflammation of the oral mucosa, not specifically related to absent saliva. Oral candidiasis (choice B) is a fungal infection that can occur in the mouth, not directly related to the absence of saliva. Gingivitis (choice D) is inflammation of the gums and is not typically associated with the absence of saliva and dehydration.
5. The client with a colostomy has an order for irrigation of the colostomy. The nurse uses which solution for the irrigation?
- A. Distilled water
- B. Tap water
- C. Sterile water
- D. Lactated Ringer’s
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct solution to use for the irrigation of a colostomy is warm tap water or saline solution. If tap water is not suitable for drinking, bottled water can be used. Distilled water, sterile water, and Lactated Ringer’s are not appropriate solutions for colostomy irrigation. Distilled water lacks essential minerals, sterile water may not provide adequate cleaning, and Lactated Ringer’s is not indicated for this procedure.
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