APPENDICITIS NCLEX EXAM TEST QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED
1. "When preparing a male client, age Answer B. A client with appendicitis
51, for surgery to treat appendici- is at risk for infection related to in-
tis, the nurse formulates a nursing flammation, perforation, and surgery
diagnosis of Risk for infection re- because obstruction of the appen-
lated to inflammation, perforation, dix causes mucus fluid to build up,
and surgery. What is the rationale for increasing pressure in the appen-
choosing this nursing diagnosis? dix and compressing venous outflow
"a. Obstruction of the appendix drainage. The pressure continues to
may increase venous drainage and rise with venous obstruction; arterial
cause the appendix to rupture. blood flow then decreases, leading to
b. Obstruction of the appendix re- ischemia from lack of perfusion. In-
duces arterial flow, leading to is- flammation and bacterial growth fol-
chemia, inflammation, and rupture low, and swelling continues to raise
of the appendix. pressure within the appendix, result-
c. The appendix may develop gan- ing in gangrene and rupture. Geri-
grene and rupture, especially in a atric, not middle-aged, clients are es-
middle-aged client. pecially susceptible to appendix rup-
d. Infection of the appendix dimin- ture.
ishes necrotic arterial blood flow
and increases venous drainage."
2. "A client is admitted with a diag- Correct answer: d) Right lower quad-
nosis of acute appendicitis. When rant"
assessing the abdomen, the nurse Rationale: The pain of acute appen-
would expect to find rebound ten- dicitis localizes in the right lower
derness at which location? quadrant (RLQ) at McBurney's point,
a) Left lower quadrant an area midway between the umbili-
b) Left upper quadrant cus and the right iliac crest. Often, the
c) Right upper quadrant pain is worse when manual pressure
d) Right lower quadrant near the region is suddenly released,
a condition called rebound tender-
ness.
3. The nurse is monitoring a client di- CORRECT ANSWER: 1"
agnosed with appendicitis who is "1. Based on the assessment infor-
scheduled for surgery in 2 hours. mation the nurse should suspect peri-
The client begins to complain of in- tonitis, a complication that is associ-
creased abdominal pain and begns ated with appendicitis, and notify the
to vomit. On assessment, the nurse physician.
1/7
, APPENDICITIS NCLEX EXAM TEST QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED
notes that the abdomen is distended 2. Administering pain medication is
and bowel sounds are diminished. not an appropriate intervention
Which is the appropriate nursing in- 3. Scheduling surgical time is not
tervention? within the scope of practice of an RN.
1. Notify the Physician 4. Heat should never be applied to the
2. Administer the prescribed pain abdomen of a patient suspected of
medication having peritonitis because of the risk
3. Call and ask the operating room of rupture."
team to perform the surgery as soon
as possible
4. Reposition the client and apply a
heating pad on warm setting to the
client's abdomen
4. A client is admitted with right low- "Answer 1
er quadrant pain, anorexia, nausea, Rational: The client is experiencing
low-grade fever, and elevated white appendicitis. A. fecalith is a fecal cal-
blood cell count. Which complica- culus, or stone, that occludes the lu-
tion is most likely the cause? 1. A. men of the appendix and is the most
fecalith 2. Bowel Kinking 3. Internal common cause of appendicitis. Bowel
blowel occlusion 4. Abdominal wall wall swelling, kinking of the appendix,
swelling and external occlusion not internal
occlusion, of the bowel by adhesions
can also be cause of appendicitis."
5. "A client with acute appendicitis de- Correct 4
velops a fever, tachycardia, and "Complications of acute appendicitis
hypotension. Based on these are perforation, peritonitis, and
assessment findings, the nurse abscess development. Signs of the
should development of peritonitis include
further assess the client for which of abdominal pain and distention, tachy-
the following complications?... cardia, tachypnea, nausea, vomiting,
"1. Deficient fluid volume. and fever. Because peritonitis can
2. Intestinal obstruction. cause hypovolemic shock, hypoten-
3. Bowel ischemia. sion
4. Peritonitis can develop. Deficient fluid volume
would not cause a fever. Intestinal
obstruction would cause abdominal
distention, diminished or absent
2/7
ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED
1. "When preparing a male client, age Answer B. A client with appendicitis
51, for surgery to treat appendici- is at risk for infection related to in-
tis, the nurse formulates a nursing flammation, perforation, and surgery
diagnosis of Risk for infection re- because obstruction of the appen-
lated to inflammation, perforation, dix causes mucus fluid to build up,
and surgery. What is the rationale for increasing pressure in the appen-
choosing this nursing diagnosis? dix and compressing venous outflow
"a. Obstruction of the appendix drainage. The pressure continues to
may increase venous drainage and rise with venous obstruction; arterial
cause the appendix to rupture. blood flow then decreases, leading to
b. Obstruction of the appendix re- ischemia from lack of perfusion. In-
duces arterial flow, leading to is- flammation and bacterial growth fol-
chemia, inflammation, and rupture low, and swelling continues to raise
of the appendix. pressure within the appendix, result-
c. The appendix may develop gan- ing in gangrene and rupture. Geri-
grene and rupture, especially in a atric, not middle-aged, clients are es-
middle-aged client. pecially susceptible to appendix rup-
d. Infection of the appendix dimin- ture.
ishes necrotic arterial blood flow
and increases venous drainage."
2. "A client is admitted with a diag- Correct answer: d) Right lower quad-
nosis of acute appendicitis. When rant"
assessing the abdomen, the nurse Rationale: The pain of acute appen-
would expect to find rebound ten- dicitis localizes in the right lower
derness at which location? quadrant (RLQ) at McBurney's point,
a) Left lower quadrant an area midway between the umbili-
b) Left upper quadrant cus and the right iliac crest. Often, the
c) Right upper quadrant pain is worse when manual pressure
d) Right lower quadrant near the region is suddenly released,
a condition called rebound tender-
ness.
3. The nurse is monitoring a client di- CORRECT ANSWER: 1"
agnosed with appendicitis who is "1. Based on the assessment infor-
scheduled for surgery in 2 hours. mation the nurse should suspect peri-
The client begins to complain of in- tonitis, a complication that is associ-
creased abdominal pain and begns ated with appendicitis, and notify the
to vomit. On assessment, the nurse physician.
1/7
, APPENDICITIS NCLEX EXAM TEST QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED
notes that the abdomen is distended 2. Administering pain medication is
and bowel sounds are diminished. not an appropriate intervention
Which is the appropriate nursing in- 3. Scheduling surgical time is not
tervention? within the scope of practice of an RN.
1. Notify the Physician 4. Heat should never be applied to the
2. Administer the prescribed pain abdomen of a patient suspected of
medication having peritonitis because of the risk
3. Call and ask the operating room of rupture."
team to perform the surgery as soon
as possible
4. Reposition the client and apply a
heating pad on warm setting to the
client's abdomen
4. A client is admitted with right low- "Answer 1
er quadrant pain, anorexia, nausea, Rational: The client is experiencing
low-grade fever, and elevated white appendicitis. A. fecalith is a fecal cal-
blood cell count. Which complica- culus, or stone, that occludes the lu-
tion is most likely the cause? 1. A. men of the appendix and is the most
fecalith 2. Bowel Kinking 3. Internal common cause of appendicitis. Bowel
blowel occlusion 4. Abdominal wall wall swelling, kinking of the appendix,
swelling and external occlusion not internal
occlusion, of the bowel by adhesions
can also be cause of appendicitis."
5. "A client with acute appendicitis de- Correct 4
velops a fever, tachycardia, and "Complications of acute appendicitis
hypotension. Based on these are perforation, peritonitis, and
assessment findings, the nurse abscess development. Signs of the
should development of peritonitis include
further assess the client for which of abdominal pain and distention, tachy-
the following complications?... cardia, tachypnea, nausea, vomiting,
"1. Deficient fluid volume. and fever. Because peritonitis can
2. Intestinal obstruction. cause hypovolemic shock, hypoten-
3. Bowel ischemia. sion
4. Peritonitis can develop. Deficient fluid volume
would not cause a fever. Intestinal
obstruction would cause abdominal
distention, diminished or absent
2/7
