The nurse is caring for a patient who has a two-month history of new onset diarrhea. The primary healthcare provider has ordered a diagnostic exam that uses radio-frequency waves and a magnetic field to evaluate disorders of the abdomen. The nurse recognizes this diagnostic test as which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The diagnostic exam that uses radio-frequency waves and a magnetic field to evaluate disorders of the abdomen is a computed tomography (CT) scan. It can be used to identify possible causes of diarrhea, such as inflammation, infection, or tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. A liver biopsy is a procedure to remove a small sample of liver tissue for examination, and it is not typically used to evaluate diarrhea. Cholecystography is a test to visualize the gallbladder and its ducts, and it is not usually necessary to diagnose diarrhea. Gastric emptying study is a test that measures the time it takes for food to empty from the stomach into the small intestine, and it may be used to diagnose conditions that cause slow or rapid emptying of the stomach, but not specifically for diarrhea.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Has a Two-Month