NUR 257 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | COMPLETE NURSING FINAL
EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
A patient is not have daily bowel movements and has be g̣un takin g̣ a laxative for this problem.
What should the nurse educate the patient about re g̣ardin g̣ laxative use?
A. When taking̣ the laxatives, plenty of fluid should be taken as well.
B. The laxatives should be taken no more than 3 times a week or laxative addiction will result.
C. Laxatives should not be routinely taken due to destruction of nerve endin gṣ in the colon.
D. Laxatives should never be the first response for the treatment of constipation; natural methods should
be employed first. - correct answer ✔✔D. Laxatives should not be routinely taken due to destruction of
nerve ending̣s in the colon.
A client with an infection in the area between the internal and external sphincters. In which chronic
disease is this condition commonly seen?
A. Crohn's Disease
B. diverticulosis
C. ulcerative colitis
D. irritable bowel syndrome - correct answer ✔✔A. Crohn's Disease
The nurse is caring̣ for a patient who has had an appendectomy. What is the best position for the nurse
to maintain the patient in after surg̣ery?
A. Prone
B. Sims' left lateral
C. Hig̣h Fowler's
D. Supine with the head of the bed elevated 15 de g̣rees - correct answer ✔✔C. Hig̣h Fowler's
A curse caring̣ for a client with small-bowel obstruction should plan to implement which nursin g̣
interventions first?
A. Administering̣ pain medication
B. Obtaining̣ a blood sample for laboratory studies
C. Preparing̣ to insert a nasog̣astric (NG) tube
D. Administering̣ I.V. fluids - correct answer ✔✔D. Administering̣ I.V.
fluids
A client has been experiencing̣ lower GI difficulties that have increased in severity, and the
g̣astroenterolog̣ist is concerned that the client's bowel is not functionin g̣ properly. What function of
the lower GI tract is most likely to be affected by the client's disorder?
A. water and electrolyte absorption
B. protein dig̣estion
C. fat dig̣estion
D. All options are correct - correct answer ✔✔A. water and electrolyte absorption
,The nurse observes the physician palpatin g̣ the abdomen of a client that is suspected of havin g̣ acute
appendicitis. When the abdomen is pressed in the left lower quadrant the client complains of pain on
the rig̣ht side. What does the nurse understand this assessment technique is referred to?
A. Referred pain
B. Rebound pain
C. Rovsing̣ sig̣n
D. Cremasteric reflex - correct answer ✔✔C. Rovsing̣
sig̣n
A positive Rovsing̣'s sig̣n is indicative of appendicitis. A nurse knows to assess for this indicator by
palpating̣ the:
A. Rig̣ht lower quadrant
B. Left lower quadrant
C. Rig̣ht upper quadrant
D. Left upper quadrant - correct answer ✔✔B. Left lower quadrant
Which type of diarrhea is caused by increased production of water and electrolytes by the intestinal
mucosa and their secretion into the intestinal lumen?
A. Osmotic diarrhea
B. Secretory diarrhea
C. Mixed diarrhea
D. Diarrheal disease - correct answer ✔✔B. Secretory diarrhea
Which is the most prominent sig̣ns of inflammatory bowel disease?
A. Abdominal distention and constipation
B. Intermittent pain and diarrhea
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds and constipation
D. Increased peristalsis and diarrhea - correct answer ✔✔B. Intermittent pain and diarrhea
Clients with irritable bowel disease (IBS) are at si g̣nificantly increased risk for which condition?
A. Osteoporosis
B. DVT
C. Hypotension
D. Pneumonia - correct answer ✔✔A. Osteoporosis
When planning̣ care for a client with a small-bowel obstruction, the nurse should consider the primary
g̣oal to be:
A. reporting̣ pain relief
B. maintaining̣ body weig̣ht.
C. maintaining̣ fluid balance
D. reestablishing̣ a normal bowel pattern - correct answer ✔✔C. maintaining̣ fluid
balance
, A client is recently diag̣nosed with Crohn's disease and is be g̣innin g̣ treatment. What the first-
line treatment does the nurse expect that the client will be placed on to decrease the
inflammatory response?
A. Ciprofloxacin
B. Methotrexate
C. Azathroprine
D. Sulfasalazine - correct answer ✔✔D. Sulfasalazine
During̣ assessment of a client for a malabsorption disorder, the nurse notes a history of abdominal pain
and weig̣ht loss, marked steatorrhea, azotorrhea, and frequent g̣lucose intolerance. Based on these
clinical features, what diag̣nosis will the nurse suspect?
A. Lactose intolerance
B. Celiac disease
C. Pancreatic insufficiency
D. Ileal dysfunction - correct answer ✔✔C. Pancreatic insufficiency
The nurse is assisting̣ a client to drain his continent ileostomy (Kock pouch). The nurse should insert the
catheter how far throug̣h the nipple/valve?
A. 2 in.
B. 3 in
C. 4 in.
D. 5 in. - correct answer ✔✔A. 2 in.
What symptoms of perforation mig̣ht the nurse observe in a client with an intestinal obstruction?
(select all that apply).
A. Sudden, sustained abdominal pain
B. abdominal distention
C. sudden drop in body temperature
D. intermittent, severe pain - correct answer ✔✔B. abdominal distention
Which of the following̣ is accurate reg̣ardin g̣ re g̣ional enteritis?
A. Fistulas are common
B. Severe diarrhea
C. Severe bleeding̣
D. Exacerbation and remissions - correct answer ✔✔D. Exacerbation and
remissions
what is the most common cause of small-bowel obstruction?
A. Hernias
B. Neoplasma
C. Adhesions
D. Volvulus - correct answer ✔✔C. Adhesions
EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
A patient is not have daily bowel movements and has be g̣un takin g̣ a laxative for this problem.
What should the nurse educate the patient about re g̣ardin g̣ laxative use?
A. When taking̣ the laxatives, plenty of fluid should be taken as well.
B. The laxatives should be taken no more than 3 times a week or laxative addiction will result.
C. Laxatives should not be routinely taken due to destruction of nerve endin gṣ in the colon.
D. Laxatives should never be the first response for the treatment of constipation; natural methods should
be employed first. - correct answer ✔✔D. Laxatives should not be routinely taken due to destruction of
nerve ending̣s in the colon.
A client with an infection in the area between the internal and external sphincters. In which chronic
disease is this condition commonly seen?
A. Crohn's Disease
B. diverticulosis
C. ulcerative colitis
D. irritable bowel syndrome - correct answer ✔✔A. Crohn's Disease
The nurse is caring̣ for a patient who has had an appendectomy. What is the best position for the nurse
to maintain the patient in after surg̣ery?
A. Prone
B. Sims' left lateral
C. Hig̣h Fowler's
D. Supine with the head of the bed elevated 15 de g̣rees - correct answer ✔✔C. Hig̣h Fowler's
A curse caring̣ for a client with small-bowel obstruction should plan to implement which nursin g̣
interventions first?
A. Administering̣ pain medication
B. Obtaining̣ a blood sample for laboratory studies
C. Preparing̣ to insert a nasog̣astric (NG) tube
D. Administering̣ I.V. fluids - correct answer ✔✔D. Administering̣ I.V.
fluids
A client has been experiencing̣ lower GI difficulties that have increased in severity, and the
g̣astroenterolog̣ist is concerned that the client's bowel is not functionin g̣ properly. What function of
the lower GI tract is most likely to be affected by the client's disorder?
A. water and electrolyte absorption
B. protein dig̣estion
C. fat dig̣estion
D. All options are correct - correct answer ✔✔A. water and electrolyte absorption
,The nurse observes the physician palpatin g̣ the abdomen of a client that is suspected of havin g̣ acute
appendicitis. When the abdomen is pressed in the left lower quadrant the client complains of pain on
the rig̣ht side. What does the nurse understand this assessment technique is referred to?
A. Referred pain
B. Rebound pain
C. Rovsing̣ sig̣n
D. Cremasteric reflex - correct answer ✔✔C. Rovsing̣
sig̣n
A positive Rovsing̣'s sig̣n is indicative of appendicitis. A nurse knows to assess for this indicator by
palpating̣ the:
A. Rig̣ht lower quadrant
B. Left lower quadrant
C. Rig̣ht upper quadrant
D. Left upper quadrant - correct answer ✔✔B. Left lower quadrant
Which type of diarrhea is caused by increased production of water and electrolytes by the intestinal
mucosa and their secretion into the intestinal lumen?
A. Osmotic diarrhea
B. Secretory diarrhea
C. Mixed diarrhea
D. Diarrheal disease - correct answer ✔✔B. Secretory diarrhea
Which is the most prominent sig̣ns of inflammatory bowel disease?
A. Abdominal distention and constipation
B. Intermittent pain and diarrhea
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds and constipation
D. Increased peristalsis and diarrhea - correct answer ✔✔B. Intermittent pain and diarrhea
Clients with irritable bowel disease (IBS) are at si g̣nificantly increased risk for which condition?
A. Osteoporosis
B. DVT
C. Hypotension
D. Pneumonia - correct answer ✔✔A. Osteoporosis
When planning̣ care for a client with a small-bowel obstruction, the nurse should consider the primary
g̣oal to be:
A. reporting̣ pain relief
B. maintaining̣ body weig̣ht.
C. maintaining̣ fluid balance
D. reestablishing̣ a normal bowel pattern - correct answer ✔✔C. maintaining̣ fluid
balance
, A client is recently diag̣nosed with Crohn's disease and is be g̣innin g̣ treatment. What the first-
line treatment does the nurse expect that the client will be placed on to decrease the
inflammatory response?
A. Ciprofloxacin
B. Methotrexate
C. Azathroprine
D. Sulfasalazine - correct answer ✔✔D. Sulfasalazine
During̣ assessment of a client for a malabsorption disorder, the nurse notes a history of abdominal pain
and weig̣ht loss, marked steatorrhea, azotorrhea, and frequent g̣lucose intolerance. Based on these
clinical features, what diag̣nosis will the nurse suspect?
A. Lactose intolerance
B. Celiac disease
C. Pancreatic insufficiency
D. Ileal dysfunction - correct answer ✔✔C. Pancreatic insufficiency
The nurse is assisting̣ a client to drain his continent ileostomy (Kock pouch). The nurse should insert the
catheter how far throug̣h the nipple/valve?
A. 2 in.
B. 3 in
C. 4 in.
D. 5 in. - correct answer ✔✔A. 2 in.
What symptoms of perforation mig̣ht the nurse observe in a client with an intestinal obstruction?
(select all that apply).
A. Sudden, sustained abdominal pain
B. abdominal distention
C. sudden drop in body temperature
D. intermittent, severe pain - correct answer ✔✔B. abdominal distention
Which of the following̣ is accurate reg̣ardin g̣ re g̣ional enteritis?
A. Fistulas are common
B. Severe diarrhea
C. Severe bleeding̣
D. Exacerbation and remissions - correct answer ✔✔D. Exacerbation and
remissions
what is the most common cause of small-bowel obstruction?
A. Hernias
B. Neoplasma
C. Adhesions
D. Volvulus - correct answer ✔✔C. Adhesions
