Deck 38: Assessment of Gastrointestinal System

Question 1

A 30-yr-old male patient with a body mass index (BMI)of 22 kg/m² is being admitted to the hospital for elective knee surgery. Which assessment finding is important to report to the health care provider?

A)Tympany on percussion of the abdomen
B)Liver edge 3 cm below the costal margin
C)Bowel sounds of 20/minute in each quadrant
D)Aortic pulsations visible in the epigastric area

Answer 1

Liver edge 3 cm below the costal margin

Question 2

The nurse is assessing an alert and independent 78-yr-old patient for malnutrition risk. Which is the most appropriate initial question?

A)"How do you get to the store to buy your food?"
B)"Can you tell me the food that you ate yesterday?"
C)"Do you have any difficulty in preparing or eating food?"
D)"Are you taking any medications that alter your taste for food?"

Answer 2

"Can you tell me the food that you ate yesterday?"

Question 3

A patient is being scheduled for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)as soon as possible. Which prescribed action should the nurse take first?

A)Place the patient on NPO status.
B)Administer sedative medications.
C)Ensure the consent form is signed.
D)Teach the patient about the procedure.

Answer 3

Place the patient on NPO status.

Question 4

Which statement to the nurse from a patient with jaundice indicates a need for teaching?

A)"I used cough syrup several times a day last week."
B)"I take a baby aspirin every day to prevent strokes."
C)"I use acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 4 hours for back pain."
D)"I need to take an antacid for indigestion several times a week"

Question 5

A 58-yr-old patient has just returned to the nursing unit after an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Which action by unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)requires that the registered nurse (RN)intervene?

A)Offering the patient a pitcher of water
B)Positioning the patient on the right side
C)Checking the vital signs every 30 minutes
D)Swabbing the patient's mouth with a wet cloth

Question 6

When caring for a patient with a history of a total gastrectomy,the nurse will monitor for

A)constipation.
B)dehydration.
C)elevated total serum cholesterol.
D)cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂) deficiency.

Question 7

While interviewing a young adult patient,the nurse learns that the patient has a family history of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). The nurse will plan to assess the patient's knowledge about

A)preventing noninfectious hepatitis.
B)treating inflammatory bowel disease.
C)risk for developing colorectal cancer.
D)using antacids and proton pump inhibitors.

Question 8

To palpate the liver during a head-to-toe physical assessment,the nurse

A)places one hand on the patient's back and presses upward and inward with the other hand below the patient's right costal margin.
B)places one hand on top of the other and uses the upper fingers to apply pressure and the bottom fingers to feel for the liver edge.
C)presses slowly and firmly over the right costal margin with one hand and withdraws the fingers quickly after the liver edge is felt.
D)places one hand under the patient's lower ribs and presses the left lower rib cage forward, palpating below the costal margin with the other hand.

Question 9

The nurse will plan to monitor a patient with an obstructed common bile duct for

A)melena.
B)steatorrhea.
C)decreased serum cholesterol level.
D)increased serum indirect bilirubin level.

Question 10

A 42-yr-old patient is admitted to the outpatient testing area for an ultrasound of the gallbladder. Which information obtained by the nurse indicates that the ultrasound may need to be rescheduled?

A)The patient took a laxative the previous evening.
B)The patient had a high-fat meal the previous evening.
C)The patient has a permanent gastrostomy tube in place.
D)The patient ate a low-fat bagel 4 hours ago for breakfast.

Question 11

An older patient reports chronic constipation. To promote bowel evacuation,the nurse will suggest that the patient attempt defecation

A)in the mid-afternoon.
B)after eating breakfast.
C)right after getting up in the morning.
D)immediately before the first daily meal.

Question 12

The nurse receives the following information about a 51-yr-old female patient who is scheduled for a colonoscopy. Which information should be communicated to the health care provider before sending the patient for the procedure?

A)The patient has a permanent pacemaker to prevent bradycardia.
B)The patient is worried about discomfort during the examination.
C)The patient has had an allergic reaction to both shellfish and iodine in the past.
D)The patient declined to drink the prescribed polyethylene glycol (GoLYTELY).

Question 13

After assisting with a needle biopsy of the liver at a patient's bedside,the nurse should

A)put pressure on the biopsy site using a sandbag.
B)elevate the head of the bed to facilitate breathing.
C)place the patient on the right side with the bed flat.
D)check the patient's postbiopsy coagulation studies.

Question 14

A patient has just arrived in the recovery area after an upper endoscopy. Which information collected by the nurse is most important to communicate to the health care provider?

A)The patient is very drowsy.
B)The patient reports a sore throat.
C)The oral temperature is 101.4°F.
D)The apical pulse is 100 beats/minute.

Question 15

Which information about an 80-yr-old male patient at the senior center is of most concern to the nurse?

A)Decreased appetite
B)Unintended weight loss
C)Difficulty chewing food
D)Complaints of indigestion

Question 16

Which area of the abdomen shown in the accompanying figure will the nurse palpate to assess for splenomegaly?

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 17

Which finding by the nurse during abdominal auscultation indicates a need for a focused abdominal assessment?

A)Loud gurgles
B)High-pitched gurgles
C)Absent bowel sounds
D)Frequent clicking sounds