NUR 120 (MED/SURG - Test 6) Study Notes Questions with Correct
Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: What does the serum bilirubin test tell us?
Answer: Function of the liver
Question 2: What is the normal direct bilirubin levels?
Answer: 0.1 to 0.4 mg/dL
Question 3: What is the normal indirect bilirubin levels?
Answer: 0.2 to 0.8 mg/dL
Question 4: What is the total bilirubin levels?
Answer: 0.3 to 1.2 mg/dL
Question 5: What is the normal serum lipase test range?
Answer: 10 to 140 units/L
Question 6: The serum lipase test is a lab to tell us about what lab?
Answer: Pancreatic labs
Question 7: What would a ultrasound of the liver tell us?
Answer: Any abnormalities in the liver structure
Question 8: T/F: The patient should be kept NPO prior to a liver ultrasound
Answer: TRUE
Question 9: What liver enzymes are looked at on a patient?
Answer: 1. AST 2. ALT 3. LDH 4. Alkaline phosphatase 5. GGT
Question 10: T/F: The nurse does not have to monitor the puncture site for bleeding after collecting the
liver enzymes
Answer: FALSE **MONITOR puncture site
Page 1
,Question 11: The normal range for the albumin protein is what?
Answer: 3.5 to 5 g/dL
Question 12: What nursing intervention should the nurse remember after a serum protein test?
Answer: Monitor puncture site for bleeding
Question 13: What is an oral cholecystogram (OCG)?
Answer: A test that provides roentgenographic visualization of the gallbladder after the oral ingestion of a
radiopaque dye
Question 14: What is the medication Telepaque used for?
Answer: It is a radiopaque dye medium that is taken after the evening meal to for an OCG
Question 15: What nursing intervention is important for the nurse to remember about doing an oral
cholecystogram (OCG)?
Answer: Assess for allergies to dye, shellfish, iodine, and administer oral agent
Question 16: What nursing interventions are important for the nurse to remember about an
intravenous cholangiography, operative cholangiography, and T-tube cholangiography?
Answer: 1. Assess allergies to iodine 2. Keep patient NPO prior to exam 3. Protect patient from infection
post-procedure
Question 17: What is an ultrasonography?
Answer: A diagnostic tool that uses the reflection of sound waves to produce images of deep body structures
Question 18: T/F: You should keep a patient NPO prior to an ultrasonography
Answer: TRUE
Question 19: What nursing intervention is important for the nurse to remember about an gallbladder
scan?
Answer: 1. Advise patient that radioactivity is minimal 2. Keep patient NPO prior to exam
Question 20: What is a needle liver biopsy?
Answer: A safe, simple, and valuable method of diagnosing pathologic liver conditions
Page 2
, Question 21: What nursing intervention is important for the nurse to remember about doing a needle
liver biopsy?
Answer: 1. Verify consent 2. Examine related lab values 3. Monitor patient for symptoms of bleeding after
procedure 4. Watch for pneumothorax 5. Check patient NPO
Question 22: If a pneumothorax occurs after a needle liver biopsy what things should the nurse
remember?
Answer: 1. Watch vital signs 2. Put patient on their right side for at least 2 hours
Question 23: What is a radioisotope liver scan used for?
Answer: Outline and detect structural changes of the liver
Question 24: A build up of serum ammonia levels in a patient can cause what to occur?
Answer: Confusion
Question 25: What nursing intervention is important for the nurse to remember about doing a urine
amylase test?
Answer: 1. Record exact time of beginning and end of collection 2. Keep specimen on ice or refrigerated
Question 26: If a gallstone gets lodged in the pancreatic duct this can cause what type of dysfunction?
Answer: LIvesr issue dysfunctions
Question 27: What is an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)?
Answer: procedure used to examine the bile ducts and pancreas in which an endoscope is passed backward
from the digestive tract into the bile duct
Question 28: What nursing interventions are important for a nurse to remember about doing a
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)?
Answer: 1. Keep patient NPO prior to exam 2. Check PT/INR levels 3. Instruct patient that exam takes 1 to
2 hours 4. Keep patient NPO after procedure until gag reflex returns 5. Assess for pancreatitis 6. Monitor
vital signs
Question 29: Why is it important for a patient to empty their bladder (void) prior to having a
paracentesis?
Answer: To prevent the risk of puncturing a full bladder during the procedure
Page 3
Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: What does the serum bilirubin test tell us?
Answer: Function of the liver
Question 2: What is the normal direct bilirubin levels?
Answer: 0.1 to 0.4 mg/dL
Question 3: What is the normal indirect bilirubin levels?
Answer: 0.2 to 0.8 mg/dL
Question 4: What is the total bilirubin levels?
Answer: 0.3 to 1.2 mg/dL
Question 5: What is the normal serum lipase test range?
Answer: 10 to 140 units/L
Question 6: The serum lipase test is a lab to tell us about what lab?
Answer: Pancreatic labs
Question 7: What would a ultrasound of the liver tell us?
Answer: Any abnormalities in the liver structure
Question 8: T/F: The patient should be kept NPO prior to a liver ultrasound
Answer: TRUE
Question 9: What liver enzymes are looked at on a patient?
Answer: 1. AST 2. ALT 3. LDH 4. Alkaline phosphatase 5. GGT
Question 10: T/F: The nurse does not have to monitor the puncture site for bleeding after collecting the
liver enzymes
Answer: FALSE **MONITOR puncture site
Page 1
,Question 11: The normal range for the albumin protein is what?
Answer: 3.5 to 5 g/dL
Question 12: What nursing intervention should the nurse remember after a serum protein test?
Answer: Monitor puncture site for bleeding
Question 13: What is an oral cholecystogram (OCG)?
Answer: A test that provides roentgenographic visualization of the gallbladder after the oral ingestion of a
radiopaque dye
Question 14: What is the medication Telepaque used for?
Answer: It is a radiopaque dye medium that is taken after the evening meal to for an OCG
Question 15: What nursing intervention is important for the nurse to remember about doing an oral
cholecystogram (OCG)?
Answer: Assess for allergies to dye, shellfish, iodine, and administer oral agent
Question 16: What nursing interventions are important for the nurse to remember about an
intravenous cholangiography, operative cholangiography, and T-tube cholangiography?
Answer: 1. Assess allergies to iodine 2. Keep patient NPO prior to exam 3. Protect patient from infection
post-procedure
Question 17: What is an ultrasonography?
Answer: A diagnostic tool that uses the reflection of sound waves to produce images of deep body structures
Question 18: T/F: You should keep a patient NPO prior to an ultrasonography
Answer: TRUE
Question 19: What nursing intervention is important for the nurse to remember about an gallbladder
scan?
Answer: 1. Advise patient that radioactivity is minimal 2. Keep patient NPO prior to exam
Question 20: What is a needle liver biopsy?
Answer: A safe, simple, and valuable method of diagnosing pathologic liver conditions
Page 2
, Question 21: What nursing intervention is important for the nurse to remember about doing a needle
liver biopsy?
Answer: 1. Verify consent 2. Examine related lab values 3. Monitor patient for symptoms of bleeding after
procedure 4. Watch for pneumothorax 5. Check patient NPO
Question 22: If a pneumothorax occurs after a needle liver biopsy what things should the nurse
remember?
Answer: 1. Watch vital signs 2. Put patient on their right side for at least 2 hours
Question 23: What is a radioisotope liver scan used for?
Answer: Outline and detect structural changes of the liver
Question 24: A build up of serum ammonia levels in a patient can cause what to occur?
Answer: Confusion
Question 25: What nursing intervention is important for the nurse to remember about doing a urine
amylase test?
Answer: 1. Record exact time of beginning and end of collection 2. Keep specimen on ice or refrigerated
Question 26: If a gallstone gets lodged in the pancreatic duct this can cause what type of dysfunction?
Answer: LIvesr issue dysfunctions
Question 27: What is an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)?
Answer: procedure used to examine the bile ducts and pancreas in which an endoscope is passed backward
from the digestive tract into the bile duct
Question 28: What nursing interventions are important for a nurse to remember about doing a
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)?
Answer: 1. Keep patient NPO prior to exam 2. Check PT/INR levels 3. Instruct patient that exam takes 1 to
2 hours 4. Keep patient NPO after procedure until gag reflex returns 5. Assess for pancreatitis 6. Monitor
vital signs
Question 29: Why is it important for a patient to empty their bladder (void) prior to having a
paracentesis?
Answer: To prevent the risk of puncturing a full bladder during the procedure
Page 3
