RN TARGETED MEDICAL SURGICAL GASTROINTESTINAL EXAM NEWEST 2025 ACTUAL
A nurse is assessing a client who has peritonitis. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
- Bloody diarrhea
- Board-like abdomen
- Periumbilical cyanosis
- Increased bowel sounds - (answer) Board-like abdomen
Rationale: A board-like , distended abdomen, accompanied by extreme pain and tenderness, is an
expected finding for a client who has peritonitis.
RATIONALES:
Bloody diarrhea
- Bloody diarrhea is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal cancer.
Periumbilical cyanosis
- Periumbilical cyanosis is an expected finding for a client who has pancreatitis.
Increased bowel sounds
- Diminished bowel sounds is an expected finding for a client who has peritonitis.
A nurse is assessing a client who has acute hepatitis B. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
- Joint pain
- Obstipation
- Abdominal distention
- Periumbilical discoloration - (answer) Joint pain
,RN TARGETED MEDICAL SURGICAL GASTROINTESTINAL EXAM NEWEST 2025 ACTUAL
Rationale: Joint pain is an expected finding in a client who has acute hepatitis B.
RATIONALES:
Obstipation
- Obstipation, or failure to pass stools, is an expected finding in a client who has a complete bowel
obstruction.
Abdominal distention
- Abdominal distention is an expected finding in a client who has a small bowel obstruction.
Periumbilical discoloration
- Periumbilical discoloration is an expected finding in a client who has intraperitoneal bleeding.
A nurse is reviewing laboratory values of a client who has colorectal cancer. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
- Negative fecal occult blood test
- Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
- Hematocrit 43%
- Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL - (answer) Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL
Rationale: A hemoglobin level of 9.1 g/dL is below the expected reference range. Decreased hemoglobin
is an expected finding in a client who has colorectal cancer due to occult intestinal bleeding.
, RN TARGETED MEDICAL SURGICAL GASTROINTESTINAL EXAM NEWEST 2025 ACTUAL
RATIONALES:
Negative fecal occult blood test
- A positive fecal occult blood test is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal cancer because
colorectal cancer causes bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
- An elevated CEA level is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal cancer.
Hematocrit 43%
- A hematocrit level of 43% is within the expected reference range. The nurse should expect a decreased
hematocrit level for a client who has colorectal cancer due to occult intestinal bleeding.
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has cirrhosis and ascites. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
- Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
- Check mental status once daily
- Provide a daily intake of 4 g of sodium for the client.
- Assess the client's breath sounds every 12 hr. - (answer) Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
Rationale: The nurse should measure the client's abdominal girth and weigh the client daily to monitor
the amount of fluid accumulation in the abdomen and the effectiveness of treatment measures.
RATIONALES:
Check mental status once daily
A nurse is assessing a client who has peritonitis. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
- Bloody diarrhea
- Board-like abdomen
- Periumbilical cyanosis
- Increased bowel sounds - (answer) Board-like abdomen
Rationale: A board-like , distended abdomen, accompanied by extreme pain and tenderness, is an
expected finding for a client who has peritonitis.
RATIONALES:
Bloody diarrhea
- Bloody diarrhea is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal cancer.
Periumbilical cyanosis
- Periumbilical cyanosis is an expected finding for a client who has pancreatitis.
Increased bowel sounds
- Diminished bowel sounds is an expected finding for a client who has peritonitis.
A nurse is assessing a client who has acute hepatitis B. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
- Joint pain
- Obstipation
- Abdominal distention
- Periumbilical discoloration - (answer) Joint pain
,RN TARGETED MEDICAL SURGICAL GASTROINTESTINAL EXAM NEWEST 2025 ACTUAL
Rationale: Joint pain is an expected finding in a client who has acute hepatitis B.
RATIONALES:
Obstipation
- Obstipation, or failure to pass stools, is an expected finding in a client who has a complete bowel
obstruction.
Abdominal distention
- Abdominal distention is an expected finding in a client who has a small bowel obstruction.
Periumbilical discoloration
- Periumbilical discoloration is an expected finding in a client who has intraperitoneal bleeding.
A nurse is reviewing laboratory values of a client who has colorectal cancer. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
- Negative fecal occult blood test
- Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
- Hematocrit 43%
- Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL - (answer) Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL
Rationale: A hemoglobin level of 9.1 g/dL is below the expected reference range. Decreased hemoglobin
is an expected finding in a client who has colorectal cancer due to occult intestinal bleeding.
, RN TARGETED MEDICAL SURGICAL GASTROINTESTINAL EXAM NEWEST 2025 ACTUAL
RATIONALES:
Negative fecal occult blood test
- A positive fecal occult blood test is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal cancer because
colorectal cancer causes bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
- An elevated CEA level is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal cancer.
Hematocrit 43%
- A hematocrit level of 43% is within the expected reference range. The nurse should expect a decreased
hematocrit level for a client who has colorectal cancer due to occult intestinal bleeding.
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has cirrhosis and ascites. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
- Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
- Check mental status once daily
- Provide a daily intake of 4 g of sodium for the client.
- Assess the client's breath sounds every 12 hr. - (answer) Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
Rationale: The nurse should measure the client's abdominal girth and weigh the client daily to monitor
the amount of fluid accumulation in the abdomen and the effectiveness of treatment measures.
RATIONALES:
Check mental status once daily
