Digestion NCLEX Questions and Answers
A 24-year-old athlete is admitted to the trauma unit following a motor-vehicle collision. The client is
comatose and has developed ascites as a result of the accident. You are explaining the client's condition to
his parents. In your education, what do you indicate is the primary function of the small intestine?
a) Digest fats
b) Digest proteins
c) Absorb water
d) Absorb nutrients - ansAbsorb nutrients
Explanation: The primary function of the small intestine is to absorb nutrients from the chyme.
A client has recently obtained a set of dentures. Which of the following will the nurse do during a complete
physical examination?
a) Remove the plates and rinse under hot water to remove bacteria.
b) Brush the dentures before examining the oral cavity.
c) Remove the plates to visualize the oral cavity.
d) Have the client rinse with warm salt water before assessing the oral cavity. - ansRemove the plates to
visualize the oral cavity.
Explanation: A complete physical examination includes an assessment of the mouth. It is necessary to
remove the dentures to allow good visualization of the entire oral cavity.
A client is diagnosed with megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. The physician begins the
client on cyanocobalamin (Betalin-12), 100 mcg I.M. daily. Which substance influences vitamin B12
absorption?
a) Intrinsic factor
,b) Histamine
c) Liver enzyme
d) Hydrochloric acid - ansIntrinsic factor
Explanation: Vitamin B12 absorption depends on intrinsic factor, which is secreted by parietal cells in the
stomach. The vitamin binds with intrinsic factor and is absorbed in the ileum. Hydrochloric acid, histamine,
and liver enzymes don't influence vitamin B12 absorption.
A client is scheduled for bowel resection with anastomosis involving the large intestine. Because of the
surgical site, the nurse formulates the nursing diagnosis of Risk for infection. To complete the nursing
diagnosis statement, the nurse should add which "related-to" phrase?
a) Related to the presence of bacteria at the surgical site
b) Related to malnutrition secondary to bowel resection with anastomosis
c) Related to major surgery required by bowel resection
d) Related to the presence of a nasogastric (NG) tube postoperatively - ansRelated to the presence of
bacteria at the surgical site
Explanation: The nurse should add "Related to the presence of bacteria at the surgical site" to the diagnosis
of Risk for infection. The large intestine normally contains bacteria because its alkaline environment permits
growth of organisms that putrefy and break down remaining proteins and indigestible residue. These
organisms include Escherichia coli, Aerobacter aerogenes, Clostridium perfringens, and Lactobacillus.
Although bowel resection with anastomosis is considered major surgery, it poses no greater risk of infection
than any other type of major surgery. Malnutrition seldom follows bowel resection with anastomosis
because nutritional absorption (except for some water, sodium, and chloride) is completed in the small
intestine. An NG tube is placed through a natural opening, not a wound, and therefore doesn't increase the
client's risk of infection.
A client is scheduled for several diagnostic tests to evaluate her gastrointestinal function. After teaching the
client about these tests, the nurse determines that the client has understood the teaching when she
identifies which test as not requiring the use of a contrast medium?
a) Small bowel series
, b) Colonoscopy
c) Upper GI series
d) Computer tomography - ansColonoscopy
Explanation: A colonoscopy is a direct visual examination of the entire large intestine. It does not involve the
use of a contrast agent. Contrast medium may be used with a small bowel series, computed tomography,
and upper GI series.
A client is to have an upper GI procedure with barium ingestion and abdominal ultrasonography. While
scheduling these diagnostic tests, the nurse must consider which factor?
a) The ultrasonography should be scheduled before the GI procedure.
b) The upper GI should be scheduled before the ultrasonography.
c) The client may eat a light meal before either test.
d) Both tests need to be done before breakfast. - ansThe ultrasonography should be scheduled before the GI
procedure.
Explanation: Both an upper GI procedure with barium ingestion and an ultrasonography may be completed
on the same day. The ultrasonography test should be completed first, because the barium solution could
interfere with the transmission of the sound waves. The ultrasonography test uses sound waves that are
passed into internal body structures, and the echoes are recorded as they strike tissues. Fluid in the
abdomen prevents transmission of ultrasound.
A client presents to the emergency department, reporting that he has been vomiting every 30 to 40 minutes
for the past 8 hours. Frequent vomiting puts this client at risk for which imbalances?
a) Metabolic alkalosis and hyperkalemia
b) Metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia
c) Metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia
d) Metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia - ansMetabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia
A 24-year-old athlete is admitted to the trauma unit following a motor-vehicle collision. The client is
comatose and has developed ascites as a result of the accident. You are explaining the client's condition to
his parents. In your education, what do you indicate is the primary function of the small intestine?
a) Digest fats
b) Digest proteins
c) Absorb water
d) Absorb nutrients - ansAbsorb nutrients
Explanation: The primary function of the small intestine is to absorb nutrients from the chyme.
A client has recently obtained a set of dentures. Which of the following will the nurse do during a complete
physical examination?
a) Remove the plates and rinse under hot water to remove bacteria.
b) Brush the dentures before examining the oral cavity.
c) Remove the plates to visualize the oral cavity.
d) Have the client rinse with warm salt water before assessing the oral cavity. - ansRemove the plates to
visualize the oral cavity.
Explanation: A complete physical examination includes an assessment of the mouth. It is necessary to
remove the dentures to allow good visualization of the entire oral cavity.
A client is diagnosed with megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. The physician begins the
client on cyanocobalamin (Betalin-12), 100 mcg I.M. daily. Which substance influences vitamin B12
absorption?
a) Intrinsic factor
,b) Histamine
c) Liver enzyme
d) Hydrochloric acid - ansIntrinsic factor
Explanation: Vitamin B12 absorption depends on intrinsic factor, which is secreted by parietal cells in the
stomach. The vitamin binds with intrinsic factor and is absorbed in the ileum. Hydrochloric acid, histamine,
and liver enzymes don't influence vitamin B12 absorption.
A client is scheduled for bowel resection with anastomosis involving the large intestine. Because of the
surgical site, the nurse formulates the nursing diagnosis of Risk for infection. To complete the nursing
diagnosis statement, the nurse should add which "related-to" phrase?
a) Related to the presence of bacteria at the surgical site
b) Related to malnutrition secondary to bowel resection with anastomosis
c) Related to major surgery required by bowel resection
d) Related to the presence of a nasogastric (NG) tube postoperatively - ansRelated to the presence of
bacteria at the surgical site
Explanation: The nurse should add "Related to the presence of bacteria at the surgical site" to the diagnosis
of Risk for infection. The large intestine normally contains bacteria because its alkaline environment permits
growth of organisms that putrefy and break down remaining proteins and indigestible residue. These
organisms include Escherichia coli, Aerobacter aerogenes, Clostridium perfringens, and Lactobacillus.
Although bowel resection with anastomosis is considered major surgery, it poses no greater risk of infection
than any other type of major surgery. Malnutrition seldom follows bowel resection with anastomosis
because nutritional absorption (except for some water, sodium, and chloride) is completed in the small
intestine. An NG tube is placed through a natural opening, not a wound, and therefore doesn't increase the
client's risk of infection.
A client is scheduled for several diagnostic tests to evaluate her gastrointestinal function. After teaching the
client about these tests, the nurse determines that the client has understood the teaching when she
identifies which test as not requiring the use of a contrast medium?
a) Small bowel series
, b) Colonoscopy
c) Upper GI series
d) Computer tomography - ansColonoscopy
Explanation: A colonoscopy is a direct visual examination of the entire large intestine. It does not involve the
use of a contrast agent. Contrast medium may be used with a small bowel series, computed tomography,
and upper GI series.
A client is to have an upper GI procedure with barium ingestion and abdominal ultrasonography. While
scheduling these diagnostic tests, the nurse must consider which factor?
a) The ultrasonography should be scheduled before the GI procedure.
b) The upper GI should be scheduled before the ultrasonography.
c) The client may eat a light meal before either test.
d) Both tests need to be done before breakfast. - ansThe ultrasonography should be scheduled before the GI
procedure.
Explanation: Both an upper GI procedure with barium ingestion and an ultrasonography may be completed
on the same day. The ultrasonography test should be completed first, because the barium solution could
interfere with the transmission of the sound waves. The ultrasonography test uses sound waves that are
passed into internal body structures, and the echoes are recorded as they strike tissues. Fluid in the
abdomen prevents transmission of ultrasound.
A client presents to the emergency department, reporting that he has been vomiting every 30 to 40 minutes
for the past 8 hours. Frequent vomiting puts this client at risk for which imbalances?
a) Metabolic alkalosis and hyperkalemia
b) Metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia
c) Metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia
d) Metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia - ansMetabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia
