NUR 170 Med-Surg Exam 4 Practice Exam Update | 80 Questions

NUR 170 Med-Surg Exam 4
Practice Exam
2025-2026 Update | 80 Questions
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question and write the corresponding word on your
answer sheet.



Module: Gastrointestinal Disorders (GERD, PUD, Obstructions)

1. A nurse is providing dietary teaching for a client with newly diagnosed gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD). Which of the following foods should the nurse instruct the client to avoid?

 A. Applesauce

 B. Baked chicken

 C. CHOCOLATE

 D. Oatmeal

2. A client with a history of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) reports a sudden onset of severe epigastric pain
that radiates to the right shoulder, followed by a rigid, board-like abdomen. Which complication should
the nurse suspect?

 A. Gastric hemorrhage

 B. Pyloric obstruction

 C. PERFORATION

 D. Intestinal obstruction

3. A nurse is reviewing the medication list for a client with GERD. Which medication, if taken by the
client, could exacerbate their symptoms by decreasing lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure?

 A. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

 B. Ibuprofen (Motrin)

 C. CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS

 D. Amoxicillin

4. The nurse is caring for a client with a small bowel obstruction. Which assessment finding is most
consistent with this condition?

,  A. Lower abdominal cramping and obstipation

 B. PROFUSE VOMITING AND UPPER ABDOMINAL DISTENTION

 C. Ribbon-like stools

 D. Metabolic acidosis

5. A client with a large bowel obstruction is likely to present with which of the following acid-base
imbalances?

 A. Metabolic alkalosis

 B. Respiratory alkalosis

 C. Respiratory acidosis

 D. METABOLIC ACIDOSIS

6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a nasogastric (NG) tube in place for an intestinal obstruction.
Which of the following actions is most important for the nurse to perform?

 A. Irrigate the tube with sterile water every shift.

 B. VERIFY TUBE PLACEMENT PRIOR TO EACH USE

 C. Keep the suction on continuously at the highest setting.

 D. Re-position the client every 4 hours.

7. The nurse is teaching a client with GERD about lifestyle modifications. Which statement indicates the
client understands the teaching?

 A. "I should lie down for 30 minutes after eating to aid digestion."

 B. "I will elevate the head of my bed by 6 to 12 inches."

 C. "Drinking a cup of hot tea before bed will help me relax."

 D. "It is okay to have a small snack right before bedtime."

8. A client is scheduled for an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). What is the priority nursing action
after the procedure?

 A. Offer the client a glass of water immediately.

 B. Encourage the client to ambulate in the hall.

 C. CHECK FOR THE RETURN OF THE GAG REFLEX

 D. Monitor the client's blood glucose level.

9. A client with a history of NSAID use presents with dyspepsia and a burning sensation in the stomach.
The nurse suspects peptic ulcer disease. Which diagnostic test is most commonly used to confirm this
diagnosis?

,  A. Barium swallow

 B. Abdominal ultrasound

 C. ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY (EGD)

 D. Stool culture

10. A client is diagnosed with an H. pylori infection. Which of the following medications would the nurse
most likely expect to be included in the treatment regimen?

 A. Sucralfate (Carafate) only

 B. ANTIBIOTICS AND A PROTON PUMP INHIBITOR

 C. Antacids as needed

 D. Promethazine (Phenergan)

11. A post-operative day one client reports severe abdominal pain and is not passing flatus. The nurse
assesses absent bowel sounds. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

 A. PARALYTIC ILEUS

 B. Small bowel obstruction

 C. Peritonitis

 D. Wound dehiscence

12. For a client experiencing a paralytic ileus, which of the following interventions should the nurse
anticipate?

 A. INSERTION OF A NASOGASTRIC (NG) TUBE

 B. Administration of a bulk-forming laxative

 C. Encouraging a high-fiber diet

 D. Applying a truss to the abdomen

13. A client is diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. The nurse understands that this condition increases the
risk for GERD primarily because it:

 A. Decreases the production of gastric acid.

 B. INCREASES INTRA-ABDOMINAL PRESSURE ON THE LES

 C. Causes rapid gastric emptying.

 D. Leads to esophageal strictures.

14. The nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client following a Nissen fundoplication. What is an
important point for the nurse to include?