Deck 59: Review of the Gastrointestinal System

Question 1

A patient is scheduled to have a segment of the terminal ileum removed secondary to cancer.The nurse anticipates this patient will develop:
1)Anemia.
2)Sepsis.
3)Atelectasis.
4)Decubitus ulcers.

Answer 1

1

Question 2

A patient has been taking oral antibiotic therapy for three days when she develops diarrhea.The most likely cause of the diarrhea is:
1)Idiopathic causes.
2)Disruption of normal flora.
3)Hospital-acquired infection.
4)Fluid volume excess.

Answer 2

2

Question 3

While assessing bowel sounds, the nurse must:
1)Auscultate in all four quadrants of the abdomen.
2)Auscultate in the center of the abdomen, at the apex of the quadrants.
3)Inspect the abdomen for peristaltic waves.
4)First perform light palpation.

Answer 3

1

Question 4

In some patients, ingestion bypasses the mouth and delivers nutrients directly into the stomach or small intestine.An example of this type of patient would be:
1)A patient with total parenteral nutrition via central catheter.
2)A patient with a Salem Sump tube.
3)A patient with an ileostomy.
4)A patient with partial parenteral nutrition via intravenous catheter.

Question 5

In caring for patients, the nurse is aware that most drugs are metabolized by the _______ and excreted by the _______.
1)Liver; pancreas
2)Kidney; small intestine
3)Liver; kidney
4)Kidney; rectum

Question 6

The nurse is aware that the alimentary canal extends from:
1)Mouth to anus.
2)Mouth to liver.
3)Stomach to large intestine.
4)Esophagus to small intestine.

Question 7

The nurse identifies that the most important accessory digestive organ is the:
1)Liver.
2)Duodenum.
3)Teeth.
4)Gallbladder.

Question 8

A nurse is planning care for a patient with fulminant hepatitis.The nurse anticipates that drug metabolism:
1)Might be delayed.
2)Will not be affected.
3)Might be accelerated.
4)Will never occur.

Question 9

What strong acid in the stomach helps to break down food, activates pepsinogen, and kills ingested microbes?
1)Acetoacetic acid
2)Carbonic acid
3)Lactic acid
4)Hydrochloric acid

Question 10

A nurse is planning to administer acetaminophen (Tylenol)per rectum to a patient.The nurse expects:
1)Onset of action to be faster than that of the oral route.
2)Onset of constipation.
3)Onset of action to be slower than that of the oral route.
4)Onset of action to be faster than that of the intravenous route.

Question 11

Due to the first pass effect, patients require:
1)A smaller oral dose of medication than of intravenous medication.
2)A larger oral dose of medication than of intravenous medication.
3)The same oral and intravenous medication dosage.
4)A smaller oral dose of medication than of rectal medication.

Question 12

A patient is complaining of esophageal reflux.In order for stomach contents to reflux backwards, the nurse knows they must go through the:
1)Oddi's sphincter
2)The cardiac sphincter
3)The pyloric sphincter
4)Urethral sphincter

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient with cirrhosis of the liver.Which process by the liver might be impaired?
1)Secretion of insulin
2)Secretion of somatostatin
3)Production of bile
4)Storage of bile

Question 14

The small intestine is alkaline in nature.Which organ is responsible for raising the pH of the small intestine?
1)The liver
2)The pancreas
3)The large intestine
4)The gallbladder

Question 15

The nurse is aware that which of the following do(es)not secrete digestive enzymes?
1)The salivary glands
2)The stomach
3)The small intestine
4)The esophagus

Question 16

The school nurse explains during health class that blood travels from the intestine to the liver in which fashion?
1)Through a vein
2)Through an artery
3)Through active transport
4)Through osmosis

Question 17

A nurse is preparing to administer a sublingual nitroglycerin tablet.The nurse is aware that which of the following is true regarding the first pass effect?
1)Drugs given sublingually bypass the first pass effect.
2)Drugs given sublingually are subject to the first pass effect.
3)The first pass effect will decrease the drug's effectiveness by one-third.
4)The first pass effect will neutralize this drug's effect.

Question 18

A patient is scheduled for a jejunostomy.The nurse plans care keeping which of the following factors in mind?
1)Nutrient and drug absorption will be impaired after the procedure.
2)Solid stool will come from the jejunostomy.
3)The patient will require lifelong nasogastric feedings.
4)A t-tube will be placed after the procedure.

Question 19

A young client is brought into the Emergency Department in status epilepticus.The paramedics were unable to obtain an intravenous access.The physician orders diazepam (Valium)to be administered.The nurse anticipates administering this medication by which route?
1)Oral
2)Intravenous
3)Rectal
4)Transdermal

Question 20

A nurse is caring for a patient with cirrhosis and hepatosplenomegaly.The nurse would most expect to palpate the liver in which quadrant?
1)Left upper quadrant
2)Left lower quadrant
3)Right upper quadrant
4)Right lower quadrant

Question 21

The GI tract is regulated by local reflexes known as the:
1)Sympathetic nervous system.
2)Enteric nervous system.
3)Parasympathetic Nervous system.
4)Central nervous system.

Question 22

The nurse is planning care, and identifies that which patient is most likely to experience malnutrition from a lack of digestive enzymes?
1)A patient with pernicious anemia
2)A patient with his jaw wired closed
3)A patient with cystic fibrosis
4)A patient with a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)tube

Question 23

A patient has a vaso-vagal episode, and was incontinent of a small amount of fecal matter.The nurse understands that the episode of incontinence was due to:
1)Seizure activity.
2)Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.
3)The patient's unwillingness to defecate in the morning.
4)Activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Question 24

A patient with irritable bowel syndrome and severe anxiety asks a nurse if the two are associated with one another.The nurse correctly responds:
1)"Mental health conditions can affect digestive processes."
2)"Everyone with anxiety develops irritable bowel disease."
3)"Mental health conditions do not affect digestive processes."
4)"I will ask your doctor to come and speak with you about this."

Question 25

A patient asks how the nutrients from food make it into the blood.The nurse correctly explains that:
1)"The teeth and saliva break food into their smallest portions and transport nutrients to the blood."
2)"Chemical digestion breaks down food molecules into simpler substances."
3)"When food hits the stomach, hydrochloric acid liquefies it and transports it into your blood."
4)"Only nutrients from liquid sources make it into the blood.That is why it is important to drink fluids with meals."