Deck 50: Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Dysfunction: Nursing Management

Question 1

The nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Which of the following characteristics are associated with this disorder? (Select all that apply.)

A) Recurrent abdominal pain
B) Abdominal pain that improves with defecation
C) Pain associated with a change in stool frequency
D) Pain associated with a change in stool appearance
E) Pain that occurs only during defecation
F) Pain associated with passing flatus

Answer 1

Recurrent abdominal pain
Abdominal pain that improves with defecation
Pain associated with a change in stool frequency
Pain associated with a change in stool appearance

Question 2

In caring for a client diagnosed with a small bowel obstruction, what would the nurse expect to do first?

A) Prepare to put in a nasogastric (NG) tube.
B) Give pain medication.
C) Draw lab work.
D) Start an intravenous (IV) line.

Answer 2

Start an intravenous (IV) line.

Question 3

Laparoscopic surgery is scheduled for a client diagnosed with appendicitis. Which of the following may be a result of laparoscopic surgery? (Select all that apply.)

A) No risk of infection
B) Less pain
C) Faster recovery times
D) Maybe more complications
E) Shorter hospital stays
F) Better visualization of the abdominal organs

Answer 3

Less pain
Faster recovery times
Shorter hospital stays

Question 4

The nurse is instructing a client on diagnostic tests used to screen for colorectal cancer. Which of the following should be included in these instructions?

A) A digital rectal exam should be done annually.
B) A test for fecal occult blood should be done annually.
C) A flexible sigmoidoscopy should be done annually.
D) A colonoscopy should be done every 5 years after age
40)

Question 5

A client complains of acute gastrointestinal distress. While obtaining a health history, the nurse asks about the family history. Which disorder has a familial basis?

A) Hepatitis
B) Ulcerative colitis
C) Appendicitis
D) Bowel obstructions

Question 6

A client is diagnosed with appendicitis. One of the laboratory tests the nurse would expect to monitor would be:

A) serum sodium.
B) white blood cell (WBC) count.
C) hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct).
D) bilirubin level.

Question 7

A young client is experiencing acute abdominal pain. The nurse realizes that the most common cause for this type of pain would be:

A) appendicitis.
B) biliary tract disease.
C) kidney stones.
D) urinary tract infection.

Question 8

The nurse is planning care for a client diagnosed with an acute abdomen. Which of the following nursing diagnoses would be appropriate for this client? (Select all that apply.)

A) Fear
B) Deficient fluid volume
C) Ineffective coping
D) Acute pain
E) Risk of infection
F) Altered self-perception

Question 9

The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who is experiencing diarrhea. What medication would the nurse expect to administer?

A) Loperamide (Imodium)
B) Docusate sodium (Colace)
C) Lorazepam (Ativan)
D) Haloperidol (Haldol)

Question 10

An elderly client has noted blood in her stool for the past few months. Which information in the medical history would strongly suggest colorectal cancer?

A) Increased bouts of vomiting
B) Change in bowel habits
C) Recent infection in the blood
D) Decrease in appetite

Question 11

When assessing the pain in a client diagnosed with appendicitis, the nurse would expect to assess:

A) extreme pain with slight palpation anywhere on the abdomen.
B) pain in the upper back when the right lower quadrant is palpated.
C) more pain when the pressure is released in the right lower quadrant.
D) no pain when the abdomen is palpated.

Question 12

A client diagnosed with appendicitis asks the nurse why this illness occurred. The nurse should respond that the most common cause of appendicitis is:

A) ulcerative colitis.
B) obstruction of the appendix.
C) low-fat diet.
D) infection.

Question 13

The nurse assesses no bowel sounds with occasional splashing sounds over the large intestines. Which of the following do these assessment findings suggest to the nurse?

A) Ulcerative colitis
B) Irritable bowel syndrome
C) Appendicitis
D) Bowel obstruction

Question 14

The nurse, instructing a client about malabsorption syndrome, should include that food is absorbed in the:

A) mouth.
B) bloodstream.
C) stomach.
D) small intestine.

Question 15

A client experiencing abdominal pain and diarrhea tells the nurse that he used to smoke. Which of the following gastrointestinal disturbances is this client most likely experiencing?

A) Irritable bowel syndrome
B) Crohn's disease
C) Acute appendicitis
D) Small bowel obstruction

Question 16

A client has a history of being treated for ulcerative colitis. The nurse realizes that a life-threatening complication of this disorder is:

A) Crohn's disease.
B) small bowel obstruction.
C) peptic ulcer disease.
D) toxic megacolon.

Question 17

The nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with diverticulitis. Which of the following are clinical manifestations associated with this disorder? (Select all that apply.)

A) Constipation or diarrhea
B) Left lower quadrant abdominal pain
C) Low-grade fever
D) Increased excitability
E) Changes in level of consciousness
F) Thirst

Question 18

A client is being evaluated for symptoms associated with diverticular disease. The nurse realizes that the best diagnostic test to be used to aid in this diagnosis would be:

A) computed tomography (CT) scan.
B) barium enema.
C) ultrasound.
D) x-ray study.

Question 19

A client, diagnosed with a vitamin B-12 deficiency, tells the nurse that she does not want to receive injections every month to treat the disorder. Which of the following should the nurse instruct the client regarding the effects of vitamin B-12 deficiency? (Select all that apply.)

A) Paresthesias in the hands
B) Paresthesias in the feet
C) Ataxia
D) Spinal cord degeneration
E) Loss of memory
F) Loss of the sense of smell