PCN 101 FINAL VERIFIED 100%
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
1. The nurse clarifies that the end product of carbohydrate metabolism is absorbed and put into the
blood stream by the:
a. gastric lining of the stomach.
b. villi of the small intestine.
c. bile of the liver in the large intestine.
d. excretion from the cecum. - Answer - ANS: B
The inner surface of the small intestine contains millions of tiny, fingerlike projections called villi, which
contain small blood vessels. They are responsible for absorbing the products of digestion.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 5-6 OBJ: 2 TOP: Digestive KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Assessment
ventrogluteal site - Answer -
deltoid site - Answer -
vastus lateralis site - Answer -
Z track injection technique - Answer - prevents medication from leaking back into the subQ tissue
- ventrogluteal site is prefered
2. A 56 -year-old man is admitted to the emergency room with an acute attack of diverticulitis. The
patient has a temperature of 102° F, and has an elevated white count. Which assessment would alert the
nurse to impending septic shock?
a. Chest pain
b. Seizure
,c. Tachycardia
d. Massive diarrhea - Answer - ANS: C
The patient with diverticulitis who has fever and an elevated white count has an infection that could lead
to septic shock, which will present as tachycardia and hypotension.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 5-98 OBJ: 9 TOP: Diverticulitis
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
3. Because bowel contents from an ileostomy are virtually liquid, what should the nurse include in the
plan of care?
a. Evaluation and assessment of dietary intake of fiber
b. Evaluation and assessment of patient cleanliness
c. Evaluation and assessment of periostomal skin integrity
d. Evaluation and assessment of the adequacy of the collection device - Answer - ANS: C
The nurse should assess the periostomal skin for impairment of integrity. The fecal material is liquid and
has a potential for severe skin excoriation from the digestive enzymes.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 5-5-84 OBJ: 8 TOP: Ulcerative colitis
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
4. The home health nurse caring for a patient who has dysarthria related to radiation therapy for an oral
cancer would recommend that the family provide:
a. a tablet and pencil as a communication aid.
b. a TV for diversion.
c. a bell to summon help.
d. a walkie-talkie. - Answer - ANS: A
The provision of an alternative method of communicating will lessen the frustration of the patient who
has trouble speaking understandably. The call bell would be helpful also, but without a way to
communicate, the bell is not as essential as a method of communication.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 5-28 OBJ: 5 TOP: Cancer of esophagus
,KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
5. Which recommendation is most appropriate for a patient who has had an esophageal dilation related
to achalasia?
a. Consume only liquid
b. Avoid fruit juices
c. Drink 10 oz of fluid with each meal
d. Lie down for 30 minutes after each meal - Answer - ANS: C
The patient should drink fluid with each meal to increase lower esophageal pressure to push food into
the stomach.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 5-41 OBJ: 5 TOP: Esophageal dilation
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
6. A patient who is being evaluated for episodes of hematemesis and dyspepsia tells the nurse that pain
occurs when he eats, but pain does not waken him. The nurse recognizes a diagnostic sign of which
condition?
a. Duodenal ulcer
b. Gastritis
c. Achalasia
d. Peptic ulcer - Answer - ANS: D
A significant subjective data assessment for a peptic ulcer is the patient report that pain is associated
with eating, but not with an empty stomach, because there would be pain with a duodenal ulcer.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: Page 5-46 OBJ: 5 TOP: Peptic ulcer KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Assessment
7. The nurse anticipates that the patient who has had a subtotal gastrectomy will need supplemental:
a. protein due to the loss of some of the digestive processes.
b. vitamin B12 due to the loss of the intrinsic factor.
, c. bulk to prevent constipation.
d. vitamin A due to the loss of the gastric lining. - Answer - ANS: B
It is recommended that all patients with a gastrectomy have a blood serum vitamin B12 level measured
every 1 to 2 years. Decreased absorption of vitamin B12 may cause pernicious anemia.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 5-61 OBJ: 6 TOP: Gastrectomy KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Assessment
8. The home health nurse is caring for a patient who has frequent bouts of diverticulitis accompanied by
increased flatulence, diarrhea, and nausea. Which of the following is the most appropriate suggestion to
lessen these symptoms?
a. Eat a diet high in fiber content
b. Increase dietary fat intake
c. Exercise to increase intra-abdominal pressure
d. Take daily laxatives - Answer - ANS: A
The symptoms of diverticulitis can be reduced or prevented by eating a high-fiber diet, reduction of meat
and fats in the diet, and avoiding activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure. Although laxatives
might be prescribed sparingly, daily laxatives are not recommended.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 5-99 OBJ: 9 TOP: Diverticulitis
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
9. The nurse caring for a patient with a peptic ulcer who has had a nasogastric tube inserted notes bright
blood in the tube; the patient complains of pain and has become hypotensive. Which condition should
the nurse recognize these as signs of?
a. Hiatal hernia
b. Gastritis
c. Perforation
d. Bowel obstruction - Answer - ANS: C
Perforation of the gastric wall causes pain, hypotension, and hematemesis. Immediate reporting to the
charge nurse/physician is essential as peritonitis, potentially lethal, is the result of a perforation.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
1. The nurse clarifies that the end product of carbohydrate metabolism is absorbed and put into the
blood stream by the:
a. gastric lining of the stomach.
b. villi of the small intestine.
c. bile of the liver in the large intestine.
d. excretion from the cecum. - Answer - ANS: B
The inner surface of the small intestine contains millions of tiny, fingerlike projections called villi, which
contain small blood vessels. They are responsible for absorbing the products of digestion.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 5-6 OBJ: 2 TOP: Digestive KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Assessment
ventrogluteal site - Answer -
deltoid site - Answer -
vastus lateralis site - Answer -
Z track injection technique - Answer - prevents medication from leaking back into the subQ tissue
- ventrogluteal site is prefered
2. A 56 -year-old man is admitted to the emergency room with an acute attack of diverticulitis. The
patient has a temperature of 102° F, and has an elevated white count. Which assessment would alert the
nurse to impending septic shock?
a. Chest pain
b. Seizure
,c. Tachycardia
d. Massive diarrhea - Answer - ANS: C
The patient with diverticulitis who has fever and an elevated white count has an infection that could lead
to septic shock, which will present as tachycardia and hypotension.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 5-98 OBJ: 9 TOP: Diverticulitis
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
3. Because bowel contents from an ileostomy are virtually liquid, what should the nurse include in the
plan of care?
a. Evaluation and assessment of dietary intake of fiber
b. Evaluation and assessment of patient cleanliness
c. Evaluation and assessment of periostomal skin integrity
d. Evaluation and assessment of the adequacy of the collection device - Answer - ANS: C
The nurse should assess the periostomal skin for impairment of integrity. The fecal material is liquid and
has a potential for severe skin excoriation from the digestive enzymes.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 5-5-84 OBJ: 8 TOP: Ulcerative colitis
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
4. The home health nurse caring for a patient who has dysarthria related to radiation therapy for an oral
cancer would recommend that the family provide:
a. a tablet and pencil as a communication aid.
b. a TV for diversion.
c. a bell to summon help.
d. a walkie-talkie. - Answer - ANS: A
The provision of an alternative method of communicating will lessen the frustration of the patient who
has trouble speaking understandably. The call bell would be helpful also, but without a way to
communicate, the bell is not as essential as a method of communication.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 5-28 OBJ: 5 TOP: Cancer of esophagus
,KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
5. Which recommendation is most appropriate for a patient who has had an esophageal dilation related
to achalasia?
a. Consume only liquid
b. Avoid fruit juices
c. Drink 10 oz of fluid with each meal
d. Lie down for 30 minutes after each meal - Answer - ANS: C
The patient should drink fluid with each meal to increase lower esophageal pressure to push food into
the stomach.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 5-41 OBJ: 5 TOP: Esophageal dilation
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
6. A patient who is being evaluated for episodes of hematemesis and dyspepsia tells the nurse that pain
occurs when he eats, but pain does not waken him. The nurse recognizes a diagnostic sign of which
condition?
a. Duodenal ulcer
b. Gastritis
c. Achalasia
d. Peptic ulcer - Answer - ANS: D
A significant subjective data assessment for a peptic ulcer is the patient report that pain is associated
with eating, but not with an empty stomach, because there would be pain with a duodenal ulcer.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: Page 5-46 OBJ: 5 TOP: Peptic ulcer KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Assessment
7. The nurse anticipates that the patient who has had a subtotal gastrectomy will need supplemental:
a. protein due to the loss of some of the digestive processes.
b. vitamin B12 due to the loss of the intrinsic factor.
, c. bulk to prevent constipation.
d. vitamin A due to the loss of the gastric lining. - Answer - ANS: B
It is recommended that all patients with a gastrectomy have a blood serum vitamin B12 level measured
every 1 to 2 years. Decreased absorption of vitamin B12 may cause pernicious anemia.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 5-61 OBJ: 6 TOP: Gastrectomy KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Assessment
8. The home health nurse is caring for a patient who has frequent bouts of diverticulitis accompanied by
increased flatulence, diarrhea, and nausea. Which of the following is the most appropriate suggestion to
lessen these symptoms?
a. Eat a diet high in fiber content
b. Increase dietary fat intake
c. Exercise to increase intra-abdominal pressure
d. Take daily laxatives - Answer - ANS: A
The symptoms of diverticulitis can be reduced or prevented by eating a high-fiber diet, reduction of meat
and fats in the diet, and avoiding activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure. Although laxatives
might be prescribed sparingly, daily laxatives are not recommended.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 5-99 OBJ: 9 TOP: Diverticulitis
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
9. The nurse caring for a patient with a peptic ulcer who has had a nasogastric tube inserted notes bright
blood in the tube; the patient complains of pain and has become hypotensive. Which condition should
the nurse recognize these as signs of?
a. Hiatal hernia
b. Gastritis
c. Perforation
d. Bowel obstruction - Answer - ANS: C
Perforation of the gastric wall causes pain, hypotension, and hematemesis. Immediate reporting to the
charge nurse/physician is essential as peritonitis, potentially lethal, is the result of a perforation.
