Deck 42: Disorders of Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Systems

Question 1

The nurse is assessing a patient with globus sensation. Which symptom would this patient describe?

A) Pressure in the mid-chest
B) Gnawing discomfort of the upper abdomen
C) Pain with swallowing
D) A fullness or lump in the throat

Answer 1

A fullness or lump in the throat

Question 2

Which manifestation would the nurse expect to assess in the patient with regurgitation?

A) Sour taste in the mouth
B) Forceful evacuation of gastric contents
C) Difficulty swallowing
D) Pain with swallowing

Answer 2

Sour taste in the mouth

Question 3

A patient, with an inability to swallow following a stroke, is receiving full-strength formula through a nasogastric feeding tube and is experiencing diarrhea. Which is the most likely cause of the diarrhea?

A) Osmotic causes
B) Secretory causes
C) Inflammatory bowel
D) Motility causes

Answer 3

Osmotic causes

Question 4

When planning care for a patient with melena, the nurse expects which appearance of the stool?

A) Coffee ground appearance of the stool
B) Black and tarry stools
C) Bright red blood in the stool
D) Visually undetectable blood

Question 5

Which of the cardinal symptoms of GI disorders would be expected in a patient with a defect of the esophagus?

A) Pain, altered ingestion, bleeding
B) Altered motility, altered ingestion, bleeding
C) Pain, altered ingestion, vomiting
D) Vomiting, altered swallowing, bleeding

Question 6

A child with corrosive esophagitis following ingestion of a corrosive liquid is treated with esophageal dilation. The nurse is providing discharge instructions to the parent. Which of the following statements indicates to the nurse that the parent needs more teaching?

A) "More dilations may be needed as my child grows."
B) "No further dilations will be needed."
C) "My child should be evaluated if he develops swallowing problems."
D) "I need to childproof my house."

Question 7

A patient with hypopharyngeal diverticula will most likely report:

A) regurgitation of undigested food.
B) regurgitation of digested food.
C) vomiting of digested food.
D) nausea.

Question 8

To detect crepitus in a patient with an esophageal perforation, the nurse should:

A) palpate the chest.
B) inspect the chest.
C) percuss the chest.
D) auscultate the chest.

Question 9

Which manifestations would the nurse expect to assess in the patient with a type IV paraesophageal hernia?

A) Dyspnea, reduced exercise tolerance, bowels sounds heard at left lung base
B) Occasional heartburn, sour taste in throat, reduced exercise tolerance
C) Sour taste in throat, dyspnea, halitosis
D) Halitosis, epigastric pain, burning in throat

Question 10

The nurse is recommending lifestyle changes to reduce symptoms in a patient with GERD. Which response indicates to the nurse that more teaching is needed?

A) "I am overweight and need to lose weight."
B) "I love my morning coffee so I am glad I don't need to eliminate it."
C) "Smaller meals may reduce my reflux."
D) "I should remain upright for a while after meals."

Question 11

Which finding would the nurse expect in a patient with a gastric ulcer?

A) Burning pain during the night
B) Burning pain on an empty stomach
C) Burning pain precipitated by food
D) Burning pain relieved by food

Question 12

The nurse should expect to administer which medication regimen to a patient with an ulcer that is H. pylori positive?

A) Proton pump inhibitors, clarithromycin, amoxicillin
B) Proton pump inhibitors, bismuth salts, metronidazole
C) H₂ receptor antagonist, proton pump inhibitors, clarithromycin
D) H₂ receptor antagonist, amoxicillin, clarithromycin

Question 13

In planning care for a patient with chronic gastritis, the nurse would anticipate which of the following vitamin deficiencies?

A) Vitamin B₁
B) Vitamin B₃
C) Vitamin B₇
D) Vitamin B₁₂

Question 14

When performing a succession splash in a patient suspected of having a gastric outlet obstruction, which result would suggest this diagnosis?

A) A splashing sound auscultated in upper abdomen 1 hour after a meal
B) A splashing sound auscultated in upper abdomen 3 hours after a meal
C) No splashing sound auscultated in upper abdomen 3 hours after a meal
D) No splashing sound auscultated in upper abdomen 1 hour after a meal

Question 15

Which finding would lead the nurse to suspect infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) in a 4-week-old infant?

A) Diarrhea
B) No visible peristalsis
C) Projectile vomiting
D) Lack of stool

Question 16

Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse anticipate in the infant with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS)?

A) Respiratory alkalosis
B) Respiratory acidosis
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Metabolic acidosis

Question 17

On initial diagnosis, the patient with stomach cancer will most likely have which findings?

A) Dysphagia and nausea
B) Weight loss and abdominal pain
C) Early satiety and occult bleeding
D) A palpable right upper quadrant mass and severe pain

Question 18

What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take when a patient with ulcerative colitis develops excessive episodes of bloody diarrhea?

A) Send a stool sample to the laboratory to rule out infectious causes.
B) Encourage increased fluid intake to prevent dehydration.
C) Administer anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation.
D) Call the physician, as this is a life-threatening condition.

Question 19

What characteristic of pain would the nurse expect in a patient with acute appendicitis?

A) Dull, achy upper abdominal pain
B) Intermittent and sharp upper left quadrant pain
C) Crampy and steady right lower quadrant pain
D) Sharp central abdominal pain

Question 20

Auscultation of bowel sounds in a patient with a small bowel obstruction will most likely reveal:

A) hyperactive, high-pitched bowel sounds.
B) absence of bowel sounds.
C) intermittent gurgles and clicks.
D) hypoactive, infrequent bowel sounds.