Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is irrigating a client's colostomy when she complains of abdominal cramping after receiving about 100 mL of the irrigating solution. What should the nurse's first response be in this situation?

• A. Stop the flow of solution temporarily.
• B. Reposition the client on to her right side.
• C. Remove the irrigation tube.
• D. Massage the abdomen gently.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The abdominal cramping that can occur during colostomy irrigation results from stimulation of the colon by the irrigating solution. The nurse's first response should be to temporarily stop the flow of solution to allow the cramping to subside. Repositioning the client to the right side will not alleviate the cramping. Removing the tube will not decrease the cramping and will necessitate reinsertion of the tube when the irrigation is resumed. Massaging the abdomen gently may be soothing to some clients, but it is not the nurse's first priority action.

2. Findings during an endoscopic exam include a cobblestone appearance of the colon in your patient. The findings are characteristic of which disorder?

• A. Ulcer
• B. Crohn’s disease
• C. Chronic gastritis
• D. Ulcerative colitis

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The cobblestone appearance of the colon is characteristic of Crohn’s disease.

3. 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.

4. Your goal is to minimize David’s risk of complications after a heriorrhaphy. You instruct the patient to:

• A. Avoid the use of pain medication.
• B. Cough and deep breathe Q2H.
• C. Splint the incision if he can’t avoid sneezing or coughing.
• D. Apply heat to scrotal swelling.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Instruct the patient to splint the incision if he can't avoid sneezing or coughing to minimize the risk of complications after heriorrhaphy.

5. The nurse is assessing a client 24 hours following a cholecystectomy. The nurse notes that the T-tube has drained 750ml of green-brown drainage. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

• A. Notify the physician
• B. Document the findings
• C. Irrigate the T-tube
• D. Clamp the T-tube

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Documenting the findings is the most appropriate action as 750ml of green-brown drainage is expected after a cholecystectomy.

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