ATI Pediatrics: Gastrointestinal and Nutrition Disorders Practice Exam
2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for an infant who is post-operative following a cleft lip
repair. Which of the following is an appropriate nursing action?
A. Place the infant in a prone position.
B. Offer a straw for feedings to prevent suction.
C. Clean the suture line with a sterile tongue depressor.
D. Apply elbow restraints to the infant.
Answer: D
Rationale: Elbow restraints are used to prevent the infant from touching or damaging the
suture line. Prone positioning is avoided to prevent rubbing the face on the bed.
2. Which of the following clinical manifestations is a hallmark sign of
hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
A. Bile-stained emesis
B. Sausage-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant
C. Ribbon-like, foul-smelling stools
D. Projectile vomiting after feedings
Answer: D
Rationale: Projectile vomiting due to the narrowing of the pyloric sphincter is the primary
clinical manifestation of pyloric stenosis.
,3. A nurse is assessing a child with suspected intussusception. Which stool
characteristic should the nurse expect?
A. Steatorrhea
B. Black, tarry stools
C. Pencil-thin stools
D. Red currant jelly-like stools
Answer: D
Rationale: Intussusception causes a mix of blood and mucus in the stool, giving it a
characteristic currant jelly appearance.
4. When assessing a newborn with Hirschsprung disease, the nurse should
expect which of the following findings?
A. Failure to pass meconium within the first 24-48 hours
B. Frequent, watery diarrhea
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds in all quadrants
D. Presence of a sacral dimple
Answer: A
Rationale: Hirschsprung disease is characterized by a lack of ganglionic cells in the colon,
leading to a failure to pass meconium.
5. A child is diagnosed with Meckel’s diverticulum. Which of the following is the
most common clinical manifestation?
A. Painless rectal bleeding
B. Severe abdominal cramping
C. Fever and leukocytosis
D. Persistent non-bilious vomiting
Answer: A
Rationale: Meckel’s diverticulum often presents with painless, bright red or dark red rectal
bleeding due to ulceration of the ectopic gastric mucosa.
, 6. Which food should a nurse teach a parent to avoid for a child newly
diagnosed with Celiac disease?
A. White rice
B. Corn tortillas
C. Rye bread
D. Fresh strawberries
Answer: C
Rationale: Celiac disease requires a gluten-free diet, which excludes wheat, barley, and rye.
7. A nurse is assessing a child with appendicitis. The child suddenly states that
the pain has gone away. What should the nurse suspect?
A. The appendix has ruptured.
B. The child is recovering spontaneously.
C. The child is experiencing a placebo effect.
D. The pain was likely gas rather than appendicitis.
Answer: A
Rationale: A sudden relief of pain in appendicitis often indicates that the appendix has
ruptured, which is a surgical emergency.
8. A parent of a child with Enterobius vermicularis (pinworms) asks how to
perform the diagnostic test. The nurse should explain that:
A. A piece of clear tape should be applied to the perianal area in the morning.
B. A blood test for eosinophils is required.
C. A stool sample must be collected for three consecutive days.
D. A rectal biopsy is the only definitive method.
Answer: A
Rationale: The ‘tape test’ is used to collect eggs from the perianal area, which the female
pinworm deposits at night.
2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for an infant who is post-operative following a cleft lip
repair. Which of the following is an appropriate nursing action?
A. Place the infant in a prone position.
B. Offer a straw for feedings to prevent suction.
C. Clean the suture line with a sterile tongue depressor.
D. Apply elbow restraints to the infant.
Answer: D
Rationale: Elbow restraints are used to prevent the infant from touching or damaging the
suture line. Prone positioning is avoided to prevent rubbing the face on the bed.
2. Which of the following clinical manifestations is a hallmark sign of
hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
A. Bile-stained emesis
B. Sausage-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant
C. Ribbon-like, foul-smelling stools
D. Projectile vomiting after feedings
Answer: D
Rationale: Projectile vomiting due to the narrowing of the pyloric sphincter is the primary
clinical manifestation of pyloric stenosis.
,3. A nurse is assessing a child with suspected intussusception. Which stool
characteristic should the nurse expect?
A. Steatorrhea
B. Black, tarry stools
C. Pencil-thin stools
D. Red currant jelly-like stools
Answer: D
Rationale: Intussusception causes a mix of blood and mucus in the stool, giving it a
characteristic currant jelly appearance.
4. When assessing a newborn with Hirschsprung disease, the nurse should
expect which of the following findings?
A. Failure to pass meconium within the first 24-48 hours
B. Frequent, watery diarrhea
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds in all quadrants
D. Presence of a sacral dimple
Answer: A
Rationale: Hirschsprung disease is characterized by a lack of ganglionic cells in the colon,
leading to a failure to pass meconium.
5. A child is diagnosed with Meckel’s diverticulum. Which of the following is the
most common clinical manifestation?
A. Painless rectal bleeding
B. Severe abdominal cramping
C. Fever and leukocytosis
D. Persistent non-bilious vomiting
Answer: A
Rationale: Meckel’s diverticulum often presents with painless, bright red or dark red rectal
bleeding due to ulceration of the ectopic gastric mucosa.
, 6. Which food should a nurse teach a parent to avoid for a child newly
diagnosed with Celiac disease?
A. White rice
B. Corn tortillas
C. Rye bread
D. Fresh strawberries
Answer: C
Rationale: Celiac disease requires a gluten-free diet, which excludes wheat, barley, and rye.
7. A nurse is assessing a child with appendicitis. The child suddenly states that
the pain has gone away. What should the nurse suspect?
A. The appendix has ruptured.
B. The child is recovering spontaneously.
C. The child is experiencing a placebo effect.
D. The pain was likely gas rather than appendicitis.
Answer: A
Rationale: A sudden relief of pain in appendicitis often indicates that the appendix has
ruptured, which is a surgical emergency.
8. A parent of a child with Enterobius vermicularis (pinworms) asks how to
perform the diagnostic test. The nurse should explain that:
A. A piece of clear tape should be applied to the perianal area in the morning.
B. A blood test for eosinophils is required.
C. A stool sample must be collected for three consecutive days.
D. A rectal biopsy is the only definitive method.
Answer: A
Rationale: The ‘tape test’ is used to collect eggs from the perianal area, which the female
pinworm deposits at night.
