ATI MED-SURG 1 —
GASTROINTESTINAL ORIGINAL
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 350
QUESTIONS | GI ASSESSMENT ·
UPPER & LOWER GI · LIVER · BILIARY ·
PANCREATITIS · OSTOMIES ·
NUTRITION SUPPORT
These are original study questions written by me based on
standard medical-surgical nursing curriculum content and
publicly available ATI content outlines. They are not
reproduced from any commercial ATI test bank or proctored
exam.
Topic 1: GI Assessment, Diagnostics & Lab Values (1–15)
1. A nurse is assessing a client's abdomen. Which sequence is
correct?
A. Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
,D. Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: Auscultation precedes percussion and palpation
because manipulation alters bowel sound frequency.
2. A nurse auscultates high-pitched, hyperactive bowel
sounds in all four quadrants. This finding is most consistent
with:
A. Paralytic ileus
B. Early bowel obstruction or gastroenteritis
C. Post-operative day 1 abdominal surgery
D. Peritonitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperactive, high-pitched bowel sounds occur early in
obstruction or with gastroenteritis. Absent sounds suggest ileus or
peritonitis.
3. A nurse notes absent bowel sounds in all quadrants after 5
minutes of auscultation. This finding most likely indicates:
A. Normal finding
B. Paralytic ileus
C. Gastroenteritis
D. Early obstruction
Answer: B
Rationale: Absent bowel sounds after 5 minutes of auscultation
suggest paralytic ileus or peritonitis.
,4. A nurse is assessing for rebound tenderness. A positive
finding indicates:
A. Normal peristalsis
B. Peritoneal inflammation
C. Bowel obstruction
D. Constipation
Answer: B
Rationale: Rebound tenderness (Blumberg's sign) indicates
peritoneal irritation, seen in appendicitis, peritonitis, and other
inflammatory conditions.
5. Which lab value is most specific for acute pancreatitis?
A. ALT
B. Amylase
C. Lipase
D. Alkaline phosphatase
Answer: C
Rationale: Lipase is more specific for pancreatitis and stays
elevated longer than amylase.
6. A nurse is preparing a client for a colonoscopy. Which
bowel prep instruction is correct?
A. "You may have a light breakfast the morning of the procedure."
B. "Consume only clear liquids the day before and complete the
prescribed bowel prep."
C. "Take your iron supplement as usual."
D. "Red gelatin is allowed on the clear liquid diet."
, Answer: B
Rationale: Clear liquids and the prescribed bowel prep are
required. Iron should be held, and red/purple liquids should be
avoided because they can mimic blood.
7. A client is scheduled for an upper GI series (barium
swallow). Which post-procedure instruction is priority?
A. "You can resume a regular diet immediately."
B. "Increase fluids and take a laxative as prescribed to prevent
constipation from barium."
C. "Avoid all fluids for 24 hours."
D. "You may notice black stools for a week, which is normal."
Answer: B
Rationale: Barium can cause constipation or impaction. Increase
fluids and administer laxatives as prescribed. Stools will be chalky
white, not black.
8. A nurse is caring for a client after a liver biopsy. Which
position is recommended immediately after the procedure?
A. Supine
B. Right side-lying
C. Left side-lying
D. Prone
Answer: B
Rationale: Right side-lying position applies pressure to the biopsy
site to reduce bleeding risk.
GASTROINTESTINAL ORIGINAL
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 350
QUESTIONS | GI ASSESSMENT ·
UPPER & LOWER GI · LIVER · BILIARY ·
PANCREATITIS · OSTOMIES ·
NUTRITION SUPPORT
These are original study questions written by me based on
standard medical-surgical nursing curriculum content and
publicly available ATI content outlines. They are not
reproduced from any commercial ATI test bank or proctored
exam.
Topic 1: GI Assessment, Diagnostics & Lab Values (1–15)
1. A nurse is assessing a client's abdomen. Which sequence is
correct?
A. Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
,D. Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: Auscultation precedes percussion and palpation
because manipulation alters bowel sound frequency.
2. A nurse auscultates high-pitched, hyperactive bowel
sounds in all four quadrants. This finding is most consistent
with:
A. Paralytic ileus
B. Early bowel obstruction or gastroenteritis
C. Post-operative day 1 abdominal surgery
D. Peritonitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperactive, high-pitched bowel sounds occur early in
obstruction or with gastroenteritis. Absent sounds suggest ileus or
peritonitis.
3. A nurse notes absent bowel sounds in all quadrants after 5
minutes of auscultation. This finding most likely indicates:
A. Normal finding
B. Paralytic ileus
C. Gastroenteritis
D. Early obstruction
Answer: B
Rationale: Absent bowel sounds after 5 minutes of auscultation
suggest paralytic ileus or peritonitis.
,4. A nurse is assessing for rebound tenderness. A positive
finding indicates:
A. Normal peristalsis
B. Peritoneal inflammation
C. Bowel obstruction
D. Constipation
Answer: B
Rationale: Rebound tenderness (Blumberg's sign) indicates
peritoneal irritation, seen in appendicitis, peritonitis, and other
inflammatory conditions.
5. Which lab value is most specific for acute pancreatitis?
A. ALT
B. Amylase
C. Lipase
D. Alkaline phosphatase
Answer: C
Rationale: Lipase is more specific for pancreatitis and stays
elevated longer than amylase.
6. A nurse is preparing a client for a colonoscopy. Which
bowel prep instruction is correct?
A. "You may have a light breakfast the morning of the procedure."
B. "Consume only clear liquids the day before and complete the
prescribed bowel prep."
C. "Take your iron supplement as usual."
D. "Red gelatin is allowed on the clear liquid diet."
, Answer: B
Rationale: Clear liquids and the prescribed bowel prep are
required. Iron should be held, and red/purple liquids should be
avoided because they can mimic blood.
7. A client is scheduled for an upper GI series (barium
swallow). Which post-procedure instruction is priority?
A. "You can resume a regular diet immediately."
B. "Increase fluids and take a laxative as prescribed to prevent
constipation from barium."
C. "Avoid all fluids for 24 hours."
D. "You may notice black stools for a week, which is normal."
Answer: B
Rationale: Barium can cause constipation or impaction. Increase
fluids and administer laxatives as prescribed. Stools will be chalky
white, not black.
8. A nurse is caring for a client after a liver biopsy. Which
position is recommended immediately after the procedure?
A. Supine
B. Right side-lying
C. Left side-lying
D. Prone
Answer: B
Rationale: Right side-lying position applies pressure to the biopsy
site to reduce bleeding risk.
