ATI RN
Gastrointestinal System Nursing Exam Questions
1. The client is admitted to the hospital with viral hepatitis, complaining of 'no appetite' and 'losing my taste for food.' To provide adequate nutrition, the nurse would instruct the client to
- A. Eat a good supper when anorexia is not as severe.
- B. Eat less often, preferably only three large meals daily.
- C. Increase intake of fluids including juices.
- D. Select foods high in fat.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Although no special diet is required to treat viral hepatitis, it is generally recommended that clients consume a diet with low-fat content because fat may be tolerated poorly due to decreased bile production. Small, frequent meals are preferable and may prevent nausea. Appetite is often better in the morning, so it is easier to eat a good breakfast. An adequate fluid intake of 2500 to 3000 mL per day that includes nutritional juices is also important.
2. The nurse is doing an admission assessment on a client with a history of duodenal ulcer. To determine whether the problem is currently active, the nurse would assess the client for which of the following most frequent symptom(s) of duodenal ulcer?
- A. Pain that is relieved by food intake
- B. Pain that radiated down the right arm
- C. N/V
- D. Weight loss
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Pain that is relieved by food intake is the most frequent symptom of duodenal ulcers because the food neutralizes the stomach acid.
3. When a client has peptic ulcer disease, the nurse would expect a priority intervention to be:
- A. Assisting in inserting a Miller-Abbott tube
- B. Assisting in inserting an arterial pressure line
- C. Inserting a nasogastric tube
- D. Inserting an I.V.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Inserting a nasogastric tube is a priority intervention for a client with peptic ulcer disease to decompress the stomach.
4. The hospitalized client with gastroesophageal reflux disease is complaining of chest discomfort that feels like heartburn following a meal. After administering an ordered antacid, the nurse encourages the client to lie in which of the following positions?
- A. Supine with the head of the bed flat
- B. On the stomach with the head flat
- C. On the left side with the head of the bed elevated 30 degrees
- D. On the right side with the head of the bed elevated 30 degrees
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The discomfort of reflux is aggravated by positions that compress the abdomen and the stomach. Lying flat on the back (supine) or on the stomach (prone) after a meal can exacerbate symptoms. Similarly, lying on the right side can worsen reflux. The most appropriate position to alleviate discomfort in a client with gastroesophageal reflux disease is lying on the left side with the head of the bed elevated at a 30-degree angle. This position helps prevent the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus, providing relief to the client.
5. The nurse is caring for a client who has had a gastroscopy. Which of the following symptoms may indicate that the client is developing a complication related to the procedure? Select all that apply.
- A. The client complains of a sore throat
- B. The client has a temperature of 100*F
- C. The client appears drowsy following the procedure
- D. The client complains of epigastric pain
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A temperature of 100°F, epigastric pain, and hematemesis are signs that may indicate a complication related to the gastroscopy procedure.
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