ATI RN Targeted Medical-
Surgical Gastrointestinal
Practice Exam 2026–2027|
Complete Test Prep Practice
Questions With Answers &
Detailed Rationales |clinical
Judgment &Safety |A+ Rated
1. A nurse is assessing a client who reports abdominal pain. Which
assessment should the nurse perform first?
A. Palpate the abdomen
B. Auscultate bowel sounds
C. Inspect the abdomen
D. Percuss the abdomen
Answer: C. Inspect the abdomen
Inspection should precede palpation, percussion, and auscultation
during the abdominal assessment to avoid altering bowel activity.
2. A client reports right lower quadrant abdominal pain that began
near the umbilicus. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Cholecystitis
B. Appendicitis
,C. Pancreatitis
D. Diverticulitis
Answer: B. Appendicitis
Appendicitis commonly begins with periumbilical pain that later
localizes to the right lower quadrant.
3. Which finding is most concerning in a client with abdominal pain?
A. Mild nausea
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Board-like abdominal rigidity
D. Decreased appetite
Answer: C. Board-like abdominal rigidity
Rigid, board-like abdominal muscles can indicate peritonitis and
require immediate evaluation.
4. A nurse is assessing a client with suspected gastrointestinal
bleeding. Which finding is most indicative of an upper GI bleed?
A. Bright red blood in stool
B. Clay-colored stool
C. Coffee-ground emesis
D. Greasy stool
Answer: C. Coffee-ground emesis
Coffee-ground emesis indicates blood that has been exposed to
gastric acid.
5. Which stool finding should the nurse recognize as melena?
,A. Yellow, greasy stool
B. Black, tarry stool
C. Clay-colored stool
D. Bright red stool
Answer: B. Black, tarry stool
Melena is black, tarry stool caused by digested blood, usually from an
upper gastrointestinal source.
6. A client reports difficulty swallowing solid foods. Which term
should the nurse document?
A. Dyspepsia
B. Dysphagia
C. Hematemesis
D. Steatorrhea
Answer: B. Dysphagia
Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing.
7. Which finding is associated with steatorrhea?
A. Black stool
B. Watery stool
C. Bulky, greasy, foul-smelling stool
D. Narrow ribbon-like stool
Answer: C. Bulky, greasy, foul-smelling stool
Steatorrhea results from impaired fat digestion or absorption and
produces greasy, foul-smelling stools.
, 8. A client has jaundice. Which laboratory value should the nurse
expect to be elevated?
A. Bilirubin
B. Hemoglobin
C. Sodium
D. Calcium
Answer: A. Bilirubin
Jaundice occurs when bilirubin accumulates in tissues.
9. Which organ produces bile?
A. Pancreas
B. Liver
C. Gallbladder
D. Stomach
Answer: B. Liver
The liver produces bile, which is stored and concentrated in the
gallbladder.
10. Which organ primarily stores bile?
A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Gallbladder
D. Duodenum
Answer: C. Gallbladder
The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile until it is released into
the small intestine.
Surgical Gastrointestinal
Practice Exam 2026–2027|
Complete Test Prep Practice
Questions With Answers &
Detailed Rationales |clinical
Judgment &Safety |A+ Rated
1. A nurse is assessing a client who reports abdominal pain. Which
assessment should the nurse perform first?
A. Palpate the abdomen
B. Auscultate bowel sounds
C. Inspect the abdomen
D. Percuss the abdomen
Answer: C. Inspect the abdomen
Inspection should precede palpation, percussion, and auscultation
during the abdominal assessment to avoid altering bowel activity.
2. A client reports right lower quadrant abdominal pain that began
near the umbilicus. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Cholecystitis
B. Appendicitis
,C. Pancreatitis
D. Diverticulitis
Answer: B. Appendicitis
Appendicitis commonly begins with periumbilical pain that later
localizes to the right lower quadrant.
3. Which finding is most concerning in a client with abdominal pain?
A. Mild nausea
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Board-like abdominal rigidity
D. Decreased appetite
Answer: C. Board-like abdominal rigidity
Rigid, board-like abdominal muscles can indicate peritonitis and
require immediate evaluation.
4. A nurse is assessing a client with suspected gastrointestinal
bleeding. Which finding is most indicative of an upper GI bleed?
A. Bright red blood in stool
B. Clay-colored stool
C. Coffee-ground emesis
D. Greasy stool
Answer: C. Coffee-ground emesis
Coffee-ground emesis indicates blood that has been exposed to
gastric acid.
5. Which stool finding should the nurse recognize as melena?
,A. Yellow, greasy stool
B. Black, tarry stool
C. Clay-colored stool
D. Bright red stool
Answer: B. Black, tarry stool
Melena is black, tarry stool caused by digested blood, usually from an
upper gastrointestinal source.
6. A client reports difficulty swallowing solid foods. Which term
should the nurse document?
A. Dyspepsia
B. Dysphagia
C. Hematemesis
D. Steatorrhea
Answer: B. Dysphagia
Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing.
7. Which finding is associated with steatorrhea?
A. Black stool
B. Watery stool
C. Bulky, greasy, foul-smelling stool
D. Narrow ribbon-like stool
Answer: C. Bulky, greasy, foul-smelling stool
Steatorrhea results from impaired fat digestion or absorption and
produces greasy, foul-smelling stools.
, 8. A client has jaundice. Which laboratory value should the nurse
expect to be elevated?
A. Bilirubin
B. Hemoglobin
C. Sodium
D. Calcium
Answer: A. Bilirubin
Jaundice occurs when bilirubin accumulates in tissues.
9. Which organ produces bile?
A. Pancreas
B. Liver
C. Gallbladder
D. Stomach
Answer: B. Liver
The liver produces bile, which is stored and concentrated in the
gallbladder.
10. Which organ primarily stores bile?
A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Gallbladder
D. Duodenum
Answer: C. Gallbladder
The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile until it is released into
the small intestine.
