TEST BANK FOR BRUNNER & SUDDARTH'S
TEXTBOOK OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING,
15TH EDITION ALL CHAPTERS
# TEST BANK FOR BRUNNER.pdf — Complete Questions, Options, Correct Answers & Rationales
---
## Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
---
**1. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a colonoscopy and whose preparation will include
polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage prior to the procedure. The presence of what health problem
would contraindicate the use of this form of bowel preparation?**
A. Inflammatory bowel disease
B. Intestinal polyps
C. Diverticulitis
D. Colon cancer
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** The use of a lavage solution is contraindicated in clients with intestinal obstruction or
inflammatory bowel disease. It can safely be used with clients who have polyps, colon cancer, or
diverticulitis.
---
,**2. A nurse is promoting increased protein intake to enhance a client's wound healing. What is the
enzyme that will initiate the digestion of the protein that the client consumes?**
A. Pepsin
B. Intrinsic factor
C. Lipase
D. Amylase
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** The enzyme that initiates the digestion of protein is pepsin. Intrinsic factor combines
with vitamin B12 for absorption by the ileum. Lipase aids in the digestion of fats and amylase aids in the
digestion of starch.
---
**3. A client has been brought to the emergency department with abdominal pain and is subsequently
diagnosed with appendicitis. The client is scheduled for an appendectomy but questions the nurse about
how a person's health is affected by the absence of the appendix. How should the nurse best
respond?**
A. "Your appendix doesn't play a major role in health, so you won't notice any difference after your
recovery from surgery."
B. "The surgeon will encourage you to limit your fat intake for a few weeks after the surgery, but your
body will then begin to compensate."
C. "Your body will absorb slightly fewer nutrients from the food you eat, but you won't be aware of
this."
D. "Your small intestine will adapt over time to the absence of your appendix."
**Correct Answer: A**
,**Rationale:** The appendix is an appendage of the cecum (not the small intestine) that has little or no
physiologic function. Its absence does not affect digestion or absorption.
---
**4. An adult client is scheduled for an upper GI series that will use a barium swallow. What teaching
should the nurse include when the client has completed the test?**
A. Stool will be yellow for the first 24 hours' postprocedure.
B. The barium may cause diarrhea for the next 24 hours.
C. Fluids must be increased to facilitate the evacuation of the stool.
D. Slight anal bleeding may be noted as the barium is passed.
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Postprocedural client education includes information about increasing fluid intake;
evaluating bowel movements for evacuation of barium; and noting increased number of bowel
movements. The number of bowel movement is noted because barium, due to its high osmolarity, may
draw fluid into the bowel, thus increasing the intraluminal contents and resulting in greater output.
Yellow stool, diarrhea, and anal bleeding are not expected.
---
**5. A nurse is caring for a client with recurrent hematemesis who is scheduled for upper
gastrointestinal fibroscopy. How should the nurse in the radiology department prepare this client?**
1. Insert a nasogastric tube.
2. Administer a micro Fleet enema at least 3 hours before the procedure.
3. Have the client lie in a supine position for the procedure.
4. Apply local anesthetic to the back of the client's throat.
, **Correct Answer: D**
**Rationale:** Preparation includes spraying or gargling with a local anesthetic. A nasogastric tube or a
micro Fleet enema is not required for this procedure. The client should be positioned in a side-lying
position in case of emesis.
---
**6. The nurse is caring for a client scheduled for a colonoscopy. The nurse should assist the client into
what position during this diagnostic test?**
A. In a knee-chest position (lithotomy position)
B. Lying prone with legs drawn toward the chest
C. Lying on the left side with legs drawn toward the chest
D. In a prone position with two pillows elevating the buttocks
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** For best visualization, colonoscopy is performed while the client is lying on the left side
with the legs drawn up toward the chest. A knee-chest position, lying on the stomach with legs drawn to
the chest, and a prone position with two pillows elevating the legs do not allow for the best
visualization.
---
**7. A client has sought care because of recent dark-colored stools. As a result, a fecal occult blood test
has been ordered. The nurse should give what instructions to the client?**
A. "Take no NSAIDs within 72 hours of the test."
B. "Take prescribed medications as usual."
C. "Avoid over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin C supplements."
TEXTBOOK OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING,
15TH EDITION ALL CHAPTERS
# TEST BANK FOR BRUNNER.pdf — Complete Questions, Options, Correct Answers & Rationales
---
## Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
---
**1. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a colonoscopy and whose preparation will include
polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage prior to the procedure. The presence of what health problem
would contraindicate the use of this form of bowel preparation?**
A. Inflammatory bowel disease
B. Intestinal polyps
C. Diverticulitis
D. Colon cancer
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** The use of a lavage solution is contraindicated in clients with intestinal obstruction or
inflammatory bowel disease. It can safely be used with clients who have polyps, colon cancer, or
diverticulitis.
---
,**2. A nurse is promoting increased protein intake to enhance a client's wound healing. What is the
enzyme that will initiate the digestion of the protein that the client consumes?**
A. Pepsin
B. Intrinsic factor
C. Lipase
D. Amylase
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** The enzyme that initiates the digestion of protein is pepsin. Intrinsic factor combines
with vitamin B12 for absorption by the ileum. Lipase aids in the digestion of fats and amylase aids in the
digestion of starch.
---
**3. A client has been brought to the emergency department with abdominal pain and is subsequently
diagnosed with appendicitis. The client is scheduled for an appendectomy but questions the nurse about
how a person's health is affected by the absence of the appendix. How should the nurse best
respond?**
A. "Your appendix doesn't play a major role in health, so you won't notice any difference after your
recovery from surgery."
B. "The surgeon will encourage you to limit your fat intake for a few weeks after the surgery, but your
body will then begin to compensate."
C. "Your body will absorb slightly fewer nutrients from the food you eat, but you won't be aware of
this."
D. "Your small intestine will adapt over time to the absence of your appendix."
**Correct Answer: A**
,**Rationale:** The appendix is an appendage of the cecum (not the small intestine) that has little or no
physiologic function. Its absence does not affect digestion or absorption.
---
**4. An adult client is scheduled for an upper GI series that will use a barium swallow. What teaching
should the nurse include when the client has completed the test?**
A. Stool will be yellow for the first 24 hours' postprocedure.
B. The barium may cause diarrhea for the next 24 hours.
C. Fluids must be increased to facilitate the evacuation of the stool.
D. Slight anal bleeding may be noted as the barium is passed.
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Postprocedural client education includes information about increasing fluid intake;
evaluating bowel movements for evacuation of barium; and noting increased number of bowel
movements. The number of bowel movement is noted because barium, due to its high osmolarity, may
draw fluid into the bowel, thus increasing the intraluminal contents and resulting in greater output.
Yellow stool, diarrhea, and anal bleeding are not expected.
---
**5. A nurse is caring for a client with recurrent hematemesis who is scheduled for upper
gastrointestinal fibroscopy. How should the nurse in the radiology department prepare this client?**
1. Insert a nasogastric tube.
2. Administer a micro Fleet enema at least 3 hours before the procedure.
3. Have the client lie in a supine position for the procedure.
4. Apply local anesthetic to the back of the client's throat.
, **Correct Answer: D**
**Rationale:** Preparation includes spraying or gargling with a local anesthetic. A nasogastric tube or a
micro Fleet enema is not required for this procedure. The client should be positioned in a side-lying
position in case of emesis.
---
**6. The nurse is caring for a client scheduled for a colonoscopy. The nurse should assist the client into
what position during this diagnostic test?**
A. In a knee-chest position (lithotomy position)
B. Lying prone with legs drawn toward the chest
C. Lying on the left side with legs drawn toward the chest
D. In a prone position with two pillows elevating the buttocks
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** For best visualization, colonoscopy is performed while the client is lying on the left side
with the legs drawn up toward the chest. A knee-chest position, lying on the stomach with legs drawn to
the chest, and a prone position with two pillows elevating the legs do not allow for the best
visualization.
---
**7. A client has sought care because of recent dark-colored stools. As a result, a fecal occult blood test
has been ordered. The nurse should give what instructions to the client?**
A. "Take no NSAIDs within 72 hours of the test."
B. "Take prescribed medications as usual."
C. "Avoid over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin C supplements."
