lOMoAR cPSD| 37417828
NR304 Week 2 Edapt
Health Assessment )
lOMoAR cPSD| 37417828
Introduction to Gastrointestinal Assessment
Chronic gastrointestinal diseases affect up to 20 million people in
the United States and are responsible for 25% of all surgical
procedures (GI Alliance, 2021). In fact, digestive diseases
represent one of the nation's most serious health problems in
terms of discomfort and pain, personal expenditures for treatment,
working hours lost, and mortality. Colorectal cancer is the third
leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Although rates have been
declining due to early detection and treatment, the rates in people
younger than 55 years old have steadily increased by 2% per year
(Siegel et al., 2020).
By completing this lesson, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to:
• analyze health assessment findings to identify cues associated with alterations of
gastrointestinal health
• utilize critical thinking to perform focused assessments based on subjective and
objective data
• assess the gastrointestinal system using inspection, auscultation, and palpation
• distinguish between normal and abnormal findings
• identify the impact of developmental and cultural influences on gastrointestinal data
• plan and implement health education addressing developmental, cultural, lifestyle, and
genetic risk factors for gastrointestinal disease
Gastrointestinal Anatomy
Which organs are located in the upper right quadrant? Select all that apply.
Head of pancreas
Liver
Stomach
, lOMoAR cPSD| 37417828
Right ovary
Gallbladder
Appendix
Order of Assessment Developmental Consideration
The correct order of assessing the abdomen is inspection , auscultation, and .
palpation
In which situation is the passage of sticky, greenish-
black stool normal
Within 24 hours of birth
After gastrointestinal surgery
After eating broccoli
At end of life
The Health History
The health history of the gastrointestinal system collects
subjective data about the gastrointestinal history and
lifestyle choices as well as knowledge deficits to address
with health education.
Data collected from the health history is used by the
examiner to determine the focus and depth of assessment
of each system.
These questions are important to ask during a
gastrointestinal health history.
• Do you have any difficulty swallowing?
• Do you have any abdominal pain?
• Have you had any change in bowel habits?
• When was your last bowel movement?
• Tell me about your appetite. Has there been any change in your appetite?
• Has there been any change in weight, up or down?
• Do you have any intolerance for certain foods?
• Have you had any nausea or vomiting?
Maintaining Gastrointestinal Health
A healthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract, or gut, is essential to overall health and wellness (Huzar,
2021). The microbiome, or intestinal bacteria, in the large intestine, gets much of its nutrients
by digesting fiber. Decreased intestinal bacteria may be associated with increases in
cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, autoimmune diseases, decreased mental health, and
even decreased vaccine efficacy (Oliver et al., 2021).
The nurse should ask the following questions related to the gastrointestinal system.
Remember to Ask About:
Frequency and duration of alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, and cigarette smoking
, lOMoAR cPSD| 37417828
• Alcohol can cause liver cirrhosis and
esophageal varices.
• Cigarette smoking and regular ingestion
of caffeine can lead to gastric reflux and
gastric ulcers.
Illicit drugs can increase or suppress
appetite and affect GI function.
Diet
Fiber maintains the diversity of intestinal
bacteria (Huzar, 2021)
High-fat diets increase the risk of inflammatory responses and chronic disease.
Exercise
• Physical activity increases the abundance of intestinal bacteria.
• Stress
• When exposed to high levels of stress, the amount of bacteria declines.
• Medications
• Some medications cause issues with the gastrointestinal system (e.g., antibiotics and
laxatives).
Health History: Gastrointestinal
Which question is important to ask during a gastrointestinal health history?
“Do you have any shortness of breath?”
“Has there been any change of weight, up or down?”
“When was your last food intake?”
“Do you have any muscle weakness?”
Preparing to Assess the Gastrointestinal System
Key Facts
Key facts to recall when assessing the gastrointestinal system:
The healthcare provider will be palpating the abdomen so request that the client has
emptied the bladder prior to assessment.
Listen in a quiet environment with the stethoscope placed on bare skin to avoid
interfering sounds made by room noise and the person's clothing.
NR304 Week 2 Edapt
Health Assessment )
lOMoAR cPSD| 37417828
Introduction to Gastrointestinal Assessment
Chronic gastrointestinal diseases affect up to 20 million people in
the United States and are responsible for 25% of all surgical
procedures (GI Alliance, 2021). In fact, digestive diseases
represent one of the nation's most serious health problems in
terms of discomfort and pain, personal expenditures for treatment,
working hours lost, and mortality. Colorectal cancer is the third
leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Although rates have been
declining due to early detection and treatment, the rates in people
younger than 55 years old have steadily increased by 2% per year
(Siegel et al., 2020).
By completing this lesson, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to:
• analyze health assessment findings to identify cues associated with alterations of
gastrointestinal health
• utilize critical thinking to perform focused assessments based on subjective and
objective data
• assess the gastrointestinal system using inspection, auscultation, and palpation
• distinguish between normal and abnormal findings
• identify the impact of developmental and cultural influences on gastrointestinal data
• plan and implement health education addressing developmental, cultural, lifestyle, and
genetic risk factors for gastrointestinal disease
Gastrointestinal Anatomy
Which organs are located in the upper right quadrant? Select all that apply.
Head of pancreas
Liver
Stomach
, lOMoAR cPSD| 37417828
Right ovary
Gallbladder
Appendix
Order of Assessment Developmental Consideration
The correct order of assessing the abdomen is inspection , auscultation, and .
palpation
In which situation is the passage of sticky, greenish-
black stool normal
Within 24 hours of birth
After gastrointestinal surgery
After eating broccoli
At end of life
The Health History
The health history of the gastrointestinal system collects
subjective data about the gastrointestinal history and
lifestyle choices as well as knowledge deficits to address
with health education.
Data collected from the health history is used by the
examiner to determine the focus and depth of assessment
of each system.
These questions are important to ask during a
gastrointestinal health history.
• Do you have any difficulty swallowing?
• Do you have any abdominal pain?
• Have you had any change in bowel habits?
• When was your last bowel movement?
• Tell me about your appetite. Has there been any change in your appetite?
• Has there been any change in weight, up or down?
• Do you have any intolerance for certain foods?
• Have you had any nausea or vomiting?
Maintaining Gastrointestinal Health
A healthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract, or gut, is essential to overall health and wellness (Huzar,
2021). The microbiome, or intestinal bacteria, in the large intestine, gets much of its nutrients
by digesting fiber. Decreased intestinal bacteria may be associated with increases in
cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, autoimmune diseases, decreased mental health, and
even decreased vaccine efficacy (Oliver et al., 2021).
The nurse should ask the following questions related to the gastrointestinal system.
Remember to Ask About:
Frequency and duration of alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, and cigarette smoking
, lOMoAR cPSD| 37417828
• Alcohol can cause liver cirrhosis and
esophageal varices.
• Cigarette smoking and regular ingestion
of caffeine can lead to gastric reflux and
gastric ulcers.
Illicit drugs can increase or suppress
appetite and affect GI function.
Diet
Fiber maintains the diversity of intestinal
bacteria (Huzar, 2021)
High-fat diets increase the risk of inflammatory responses and chronic disease.
Exercise
• Physical activity increases the abundance of intestinal bacteria.
• Stress
• When exposed to high levels of stress, the amount of bacteria declines.
• Medications
• Some medications cause issues with the gastrointestinal system (e.g., antibiotics and
laxatives).
Health History: Gastrointestinal
Which question is important to ask during a gastrointestinal health history?
“Do you have any shortness of breath?”
“Has there been any change of weight, up or down?”
“When was your last food intake?”
“Do you have any muscle weakness?”
Preparing to Assess the Gastrointestinal System
Key Facts
Key facts to recall when assessing the gastrointestinal system:
The healthcare provider will be palpating the abdomen so request that the client has
emptied the bladder prior to assessment.
Listen in a quiet environment with the stethoscope placed on bare skin to avoid
interfering sounds made by room noise and the person's clothing.
