Deck 28: Gastrointestinal Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Procedures

Question 1

A patient has been admitted with perforated duodenal ulcer.Which findings would the nurse expect to note to support this diagnosis?

A) Tenderness in the epigastric area
B) Jaundice
C) Vomiting
D) Cullen sign

Answer 1

Tenderness in the epigastric area

Question 2

The nurse has been caring for a patient with severe pancreatitis.The practitioner suspects the patient has developed a pseudocyst.Which diagnostic procedure would the nurse expect the practitioner to order to confirm this diagnosis?

A) Plain film radiography
B) Abdominal ultrasonography
C) Computed tomography (CT) of abdomen
D) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen

Answer 2

Computed tomography (CT) of abdomen

Question 3

Preprocedural teaching of a patient undergoing a liver scan should include which instruction?

A) Drink at least 500 mL of fluids before the procedure.
B) Remain flat in bed for 12 hours after the procedure.
C) Stay flat and still during the procedure.
D) Sedation will be provided during the procedure.

Answer 3

Stay flat and still during the procedure.

Question 4

What is the most common location for a male to have a hernia?

A) Femoral
B) Umbilical
C) Inguinal
D) Abdominal

Question 5

A patient has been admitted with abdominal pain with right lower quadrant guarding and tenderness,fever,and an elevated white blood cell count.The nurse suspects that the patient has which disorder?

A) Appendicitis
B) Hepatitis
C) Cecal volvulus
D) Perforated duodenal ulcer

Question 6

A patient has been admitted with pyloric obstruction.Which findings would the nurse expect to note to support this diagnosis?

A) Left lower quadrant tenderness
B) Jaundice
C) Diarrhea
D) Visible peristaltic waves

Question 7

The nurse is caring for a patient with acute liver failure.What laboratory value would the nurse expect to decrease in this situation?

A) Albumin
B) Total bilirubin
C) Alkaline phosphatase
D) Aspartate aminotransferase

Question 8

The practitioner has ordered a test for steatorrhea.The nurse knows this is determined by which laboratory study?

A) Gastric acid stimulation
B) Urea breath test
C) Culture and sensitivity
D) Stool studies

Question 9

A patient has been admitted with abdominal pain.The practitioner suspects the patient has gallstones.Which diagnostic procedure would the nurse expect the practitioner to order to confirm this diagnosis?

A) Ultrasonography
B) Abdominal radiography
C) Angiography
D) Liver scan

Question 10

A patient is undergoing a hepatobiliary scan to assess the progression of cirrhosis of the liver.The nurse would anticipate which result?

A) Nonvisualization
B) Little or no uptake
C) Increased uptake
D) Normal uptake

Question 11

A patient was admitted with an abdominal mass.Which assessment technique would the nurse find most useful in detecting this pathologic condition?

A) Percussion
B) Palpation
C) Inspection
D) Auscultation

Question 12

The nurse has been caring for a patient with liver dysfunction.The practitioner has just performed a liver biopsy at the bedside.Following a liver biopsy,how would the nurse position the patient?

A) Left side for 2 hours
B) Right side for 2 hours
C) Left side for 6 to 8 hours
D) Right side for 6 to 8 hours

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient with an upper gastrointestinal bleed.What procedure would the nurse expect the practitioner to order to confirm this diagnosis?

A) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
B) Colonoscopy
C) Endoscopy
D) Angiography

Question 14

The practitioner has ordered a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)of the liver.What would the nurse do to prepare the patient for the examination?

A) Explain the patient must lie still during the procedure.
B) Explain the patient may experience deep pressure sensation.
C) Inform the patient that he or she will have to drink contrast.
D) Inform the patient that the procedure will be performed at the bedside.

Question 15

A patient was admitted with pancreatitis.The nurse is auscultating the patient's abdomen.How long must the nurse listen to be able to accurately chart that bowel sounds are absent?

A) 30 seconds
B) 1 minute
C) 3 minutes
D) 5 minutes

Question 16

Which finding is considered an abnormal gastrointestinal assessment finding?

A) Visible peristaltic waves
B) Hyper-resonance of the intestine
C) High-pitched gurgling sounds in the small intestine
D) Dull sounds over the liver and spleen

Question 17

Upon auscultation,the nurse hears borborygmi.The nurse suspects the patient may be developing which problem?

A) A complete ileus
B) Early intestinal obstruction
C) Abnormality of blood flow
D) Peritonitis

Question 18

A patient was admitted with pancreatitis.In which order would the nurse perform an assessment of the gastrointestinal system?

A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
C) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion

Question 19

A patient was admitted with pancreatitis.Which laboratory value would the nurse expect the practitioner order to confirm this diagnosis?

A) Bilirubin
B) Amylase
C) Lactate dehydrogenase
D) Ammonia

Question 20

What intervention should be included in the nursing management of the patient undergoing an angiogram?

A) Maintain the patient flat for 24 hours.
B) Insert a nasogastric tube before the procedure.
C) Administer tap water enemas until clear.
D) Check the pulse distal to the injection site every 15 minutes.

Question 21

What anatomic structures are part of inspection of the gastrointestinal system?

A) Teeth
B) Gums
C) Skin
D) Spleen
E) Abdomen

Question 22

Which anatomic structures are found in the left upper quadrant?

A) Stomach
B) Spleen
C) Portion of the transverse and descending colon
D) Head of the pancreas
E) Body of the pancreas

Question 23

Which anatomic structures are found in the left lower quadrant?

A) Distended uterus
B) Cecum and appendix
C) Left ureter
D) Portion of the descending colon
E) Sigmoid colon

Question 24

The nurse is caring for a patient with an upper gastrointestinal bleed.The practitioner has just performed an endoscopy at the bedside.What complications would the nurse monitor the patient for after the procedure?

A) Perforation
B) Hemorrhage
C) Oversedation
D) Constipation
E) Aspiration

Question 25

Which anatomic structures are found in the right lower quadrant?

A) Sigmoid colon
B) Portion of the ascending colon
C) Portion of the descending colon
D) Distended bladder
E) Enlarged uterus

Question 26

A patient has been admitted with ulcerative colitis.Which information from the patient's history would be consistent with this diagnosis?

A) Drug abuse
B) Jewish ancestry
C) Pericardial disease
D) Asian ancestry

Question 27

Which anatomic structures are found in the right upper quadrant?

A) Duodenum
B) Portion of the transverse colon
C) Liver
D) Stomach
E) Cecum

Question 28

The nurse is caring for a patient with gastrointestinal bleeding.The practitioner was unable to locate the bleed with an endoscopy.Which procedure would the nurse expect the practitioner to order next?

A) Plain abdominal series
B) Magnetic resonance imaging
C) Angiogram
D) Computed tomography