Chapter 42 Gastrointestinal and Antiemetic Drugs
1. What action does the histamine-2 antagonist administered by the nurse have on the
human body that will help to prevent peptic ulcer disease?
A) Destroys Helicobacter pylori
B) Coats and protects the stomach lining
C) Increases the pH of the secreted hydrochloric acid D) Reduces the amount of
hydrochloric acid secreted
Ans D
Feedback
Histamine-2 antagonists are administered to reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid
secreted in the stomach, which helps to prevent peptic ulcer disease. H2 antagonists do
not act as an antibiotic to kill bacteria (i.e., H. pylori) coat and protect the stomach lining
like sucralfate (Carafate), or increase the pH of the secreted hydrochloric acid.
2. What classification of drugs does the nurse administer to treat peptic ulcers by
suppressing the secretion of hydrochloric acid into the lumen of the stomach?
A) Antipeptic agents
B) Histamine-2 antagonists
C) Proton pump inhibitors
D) Prostaglandins
Ans C
Feedback
Proton pump inhibitors suppress the secretion of hydrochloric acid into the lumen of the
stomach. Antipeptic agents coat any injured area in the stomach to prevent further
injury.
H2 antagonists block the release of hydrochloric acid in response to gastrin.
Prostaglandins inhibit secretion of gastrin and increase secretion of the mucous lining of
the stomach.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient requiring digestive enzyme replacement therapy and
establishes what appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient?
A) Acute pain
, B) Risk for constipation
C) Risk for imbalanced nutrition
D) Bowel incontinence
Ans C
Feedback
The nurse would be concerned about the patients nutritional status because lack of
digestive enzymes results in malnutrition. Replacement digestive enzymes help the
patient improve digestion and absorption of essential nutrients. Effectiveness of the
therapy is determined by the patients ability to maintain balanced nutrition. The
other three options are not applicable to the use of replacement digestive enzymes.
4. What nursing interventions are included in the plan of care for a patient receiving
antacids to relieve GI discomfort?
A) Administer this drug with other drugs or food.
B) Administer the antacid 1 hour before or 2 hours after other oral medications.
C) Limit fluid intake to decrease dilution of the medication in the stomach.
D) Have the patient swallow the antacid whole and do not crush or chew the tablet.
Ans B
Feedback
A patient taking antacids should be advised to take the antacid 1 hour before or 2 hours
after other oral medications. These tablets are often chewed to increase effectiveness.
Limiting fluid intake can result in rebound fluid retention so that patients should be
encouraged to maintain hydration. It is not necessary to take an antacid with other drugs,
nor with food.
5. An adult patient is prescribed cimetidine (Tagamet). A nurse will instruct the patient that
an appropriate dosage and frequency of cimetidine is what?
A) 20 mg PO b.i.d
B) 150 mg PO b.i.d
C) 300 mg PO at bedtime
D) 800 mg PO at bedtime
Ans D
Feedback
, An appropriate dosage and frequency for cimetidine is 800 mg PO at bedtime. Also, 300
mg can be taken q.i.d at meals and at bedtime. Ranitidine is taken 150 mg daily or b.i.d.
Famotidine is taken 20 mg PO b.i.d. Nizatidine can be taken 150 to 300 mg PO at
bedtime.
6. The nurse develops a discharge teaching plan for a patient who was prescribed pancreatic
enzyme replacement and includes what important teaching point? A) Take the enzymes on an
empty stomach.
B) Crush the capsules and take with food.
C) Avoid spilling the powder on the skin because it may be irritating.
D) Pancreatin and pancrelipase are interchangeable.
Ans C
Feedback
Patients receiving pancreatic enzymes should be taught to avoid spilling the powder on
the skin because it can be very irritating. The enzymes should be taken with food and
are often in a powder form. Pancreatin and pancrelipase are not interchangeable.
7. A patient comes to the clinic complaining of acid indigestion and tells the nurse he is
tired of buying over-the-counter (OTC) antacids and wants a prescription drug to cure
the problem. What would the nurse specifically assess for?
A) Alkalosis
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hypercholesterolemia
D) Rebound tenderness at McBurneys point
Ans A
Feedback
Prolonged or excessive use of OTC antacids can lead to the development of metabolic
alkalosis. Many antacids contain calcium so that low calcium levels would be unlikely.
Because metabolic alkalosis is a concern, metabolic acidosis is unlikely. High cholesterol
levels are not associated with OTC antacid use. Rebound tenderness at McBurneys point
is related to appendicitis and not antacid use.
8. A patient with a duodenal ulcer is receiving sucralfate for short-term treatment. What
will the nurse advise the patient to avoid?
A) Milk of Magnesia
1. What action does the histamine-2 antagonist administered by the nurse have on the
human body that will help to prevent peptic ulcer disease?
A) Destroys Helicobacter pylori
B) Coats and protects the stomach lining
C) Increases the pH of the secreted hydrochloric acid D) Reduces the amount of
hydrochloric acid secreted
Ans D
Feedback
Histamine-2 antagonists are administered to reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid
secreted in the stomach, which helps to prevent peptic ulcer disease. H2 antagonists do
not act as an antibiotic to kill bacteria (i.e., H. pylori) coat and protect the stomach lining
like sucralfate (Carafate), or increase the pH of the secreted hydrochloric acid.
2. What classification of drugs does the nurse administer to treat peptic ulcers by
suppressing the secretion of hydrochloric acid into the lumen of the stomach?
A) Antipeptic agents
B) Histamine-2 antagonists
C) Proton pump inhibitors
D) Prostaglandins
Ans C
Feedback
Proton pump inhibitors suppress the secretion of hydrochloric acid into the lumen of the
stomach. Antipeptic agents coat any injured area in the stomach to prevent further
injury.
H2 antagonists block the release of hydrochloric acid in response to gastrin.
Prostaglandins inhibit secretion of gastrin and increase secretion of the mucous lining of
the stomach.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient requiring digestive enzyme replacement therapy and
establishes what appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient?
A) Acute pain
, B) Risk for constipation
C) Risk for imbalanced nutrition
D) Bowel incontinence
Ans C
Feedback
The nurse would be concerned about the patients nutritional status because lack of
digestive enzymes results in malnutrition. Replacement digestive enzymes help the
patient improve digestion and absorption of essential nutrients. Effectiveness of the
therapy is determined by the patients ability to maintain balanced nutrition. The
other three options are not applicable to the use of replacement digestive enzymes.
4. What nursing interventions are included in the plan of care for a patient receiving
antacids to relieve GI discomfort?
A) Administer this drug with other drugs or food.
B) Administer the antacid 1 hour before or 2 hours after other oral medications.
C) Limit fluid intake to decrease dilution of the medication in the stomach.
D) Have the patient swallow the antacid whole and do not crush or chew the tablet.
Ans B
Feedback
A patient taking antacids should be advised to take the antacid 1 hour before or 2 hours
after other oral medications. These tablets are often chewed to increase effectiveness.
Limiting fluid intake can result in rebound fluid retention so that patients should be
encouraged to maintain hydration. It is not necessary to take an antacid with other drugs,
nor with food.
5. An adult patient is prescribed cimetidine (Tagamet). A nurse will instruct the patient that
an appropriate dosage and frequency of cimetidine is what?
A) 20 mg PO b.i.d
B) 150 mg PO b.i.d
C) 300 mg PO at bedtime
D) 800 mg PO at bedtime
Ans D
Feedback
, An appropriate dosage and frequency for cimetidine is 800 mg PO at bedtime. Also, 300
mg can be taken q.i.d at meals and at bedtime. Ranitidine is taken 150 mg daily or b.i.d.
Famotidine is taken 20 mg PO b.i.d. Nizatidine can be taken 150 to 300 mg PO at
bedtime.
6. The nurse develops a discharge teaching plan for a patient who was prescribed pancreatic
enzyme replacement and includes what important teaching point? A) Take the enzymes on an
empty stomach.
B) Crush the capsules and take with food.
C) Avoid spilling the powder on the skin because it may be irritating.
D) Pancreatin and pancrelipase are interchangeable.
Ans C
Feedback
Patients receiving pancreatic enzymes should be taught to avoid spilling the powder on
the skin because it can be very irritating. The enzymes should be taken with food and
are often in a powder form. Pancreatin and pancrelipase are not interchangeable.
7. A patient comes to the clinic complaining of acid indigestion and tells the nurse he is
tired of buying over-the-counter (OTC) antacids and wants a prescription drug to cure
the problem. What would the nurse specifically assess for?
A) Alkalosis
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hypercholesterolemia
D) Rebound tenderness at McBurneys point
Ans A
Feedback
Prolonged or excessive use of OTC antacids can lead to the development of metabolic
alkalosis. Many antacids contain calcium so that low calcium levels would be unlikely.
Because metabolic alkalosis is a concern, metabolic acidosis is unlikely. High cholesterol
levels are not associated with OTC antacid use. Rebound tenderness at McBurneys point
is related to appendicitis and not antacid use.
8. A patient with a duodenal ulcer is receiving sucralfate for short-term treatment. What
will the nurse advise the patient to avoid?
A) Milk of Magnesia
