BCIT NSER 7110 EMERGENCY NURSING THEORY 1 FINAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED) LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | GRADED A+.
What does a jelly-like stool indicate? - ANSWER: Intussusception
what kind of abdominal pain is typical after surgery? - ANSWER: ischemic
what is vomiting a result of after abdo surgery? - ANSWER: vagal stimulation activating
medullary efferent fibres
signs of an early bowel obstruction - ANSWER: hyperperistalsis, constant cramping pain,
exaggerated peristaltic rushes that produce high-pitch bowel sounds, alternating colicky pain
with painless periods
pyloric stenosis - ANSWER: narrowing of the opening of the stomach to the duodenum
10-20% of infants effected
Type A Delta Fibers - ANSWER: Detects FAST, localized, somatic pain
Type C Fibers - ANSWER: Carry sensations of slow pain, or burning and aching pain
Cause a generalized activation of the reticular formation and thalamus
You become aware of the pain but only have a general idea of the area affected
what is indicated if vomiting is light and includes bile after surgery? - ANSWER: bowel
obstruction
,when is surgical abdominal pain unlikely? - ANSWER: when vomiting occurs prior to pain
or concurrent with pain
Types of visceral pain - ANSWER: tension pain, inflammatory pain, ischemic pain
Tension abdominal pain - ANSWER: "colic" abdominal pain caused by increased
forcefulness of peristaltic contraction ie: bowel trying to eject something irritating
Inflammatory abdominal pain - ANSWER: deep, poorly localized pain usually begins with
inflammation of the peritoneum
conditions that would cause tension abdominal pain - ANSWER: gastroenteritis,
constipation, acute pancreatitis
General history to obtain when a person is having abdominal pain. - ANSWER: hx of
N/V, bowel habits (diarrhea/constipation), characteristics of pain, associated factors (fever,
chills, heart burn), stool characteristics
most common abdominal condition for pediatric patients - ANSWER: intussusception
what can abdominal pain in the first 22 weeks of pregnancy indicate? - ANSWER:
spontaneous abortion or ectopic pregnancy
what can abdominal pain after 22 weeks of pregnancy indicate? - ANSWER: amnionitis,
acute pyelonephritis, pre-term labor, abruptio placentae, ruptured uterus
amnionitis - ANSWER: inflammation of the amniotic sac secondary to infection
signs of amnionitis - ANSWER: fever, abdo pain, hx of foul smelling, watery vaginal
discharge
,signs of pre-term labor - ANSWER: rhythmic contractions, with abdo pain, with/without
blood stained mucus prior to 37-weeks gestation
Signs of abruptio placenta - ANSWER: intermittent or constant abdo pain with tense or
tender uterus and low or decreased fetal movement with/without symptoms of shock
signs of ruptured uterus - ANSWER: severe abdo pain, abdo tenderness with abnormal
uterine contour and easily palpable fetal parts
what abdominal disorders are elderly patients at risk of? - ANSWER: biliary tract disease,
diverticulitis, triple A, mesenteric ischemia, bowel obstruction, malignancy
Mesenteric adenitis - ANSWER: Self-limiting, usually viral inflammatory condition of
mesenteric lymph nodes Normal appendix. Cluster of large right lower quadrant lymph
nodes.
appendicitis - ANSWER: inflammation of the appendix
Ischemic abdominal pain - ANSWER: Deep, intense pain with acute onset, typically more
localized, and worse with eating (because O2 demand increases when ischemic tissue must
do work, including digestion).
not relieved with analgesia
Think: Ischemic bowel or mesenteric artery infarct
symptoms of ectopic pregnancy - ANSWER: apoplectic lower abdo pain, vague pain,
intermittent pain, all levels of vaginal bleeding
stable - ANSWER: pt presents with normal clinical findings and history leading to
admission that is not life or limb threatening
, unstable - ANSWER: pt presents with abnormal clinical findings and history that is
considered life or limb threatening
potentially unstable - ANSWER: pt presents with normal clinical findings but history
leading to admission warrants concerns and ongoing observation
Objective secondary assessment - ANSWER: head-to-toe
Subjective data - ANSWER: data from and is concerned with an individual
information specific to that person's experience of symptoms
Objective data - ANSWER: data observed to others
Questions to determine if assessment should follow CAB vs ABC? - ANSWER: does pt
need CPR? does pt have uncontrolled bleeding?
Airway and C-spine data to collect for primary assessment - ANSWER: look, listen and
feel for air movement, clarity of speech, patency vs adventitious sounds, AVPU, c-spine
Breathing data to collect for primary assessment - ANSWER: rate, effort, quality of resp,
auscultate lungs, skin color
Circulation data to collect for primary assessment - ANSWER: skin (color, temp,
moisture), cap refill time, pulses, quality rate/rhythm, chest pain?
Disability/Dextrose/Doctor data to collect for primary assessment - ANSWER: reassess
AVPU, GCS, PEARLA, CBG
Call EP if necessary
Administer antiemetic if indicated
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED) LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | GRADED A+.
What does a jelly-like stool indicate? - ANSWER: Intussusception
what kind of abdominal pain is typical after surgery? - ANSWER: ischemic
what is vomiting a result of after abdo surgery? - ANSWER: vagal stimulation activating
medullary efferent fibres
signs of an early bowel obstruction - ANSWER: hyperperistalsis, constant cramping pain,
exaggerated peristaltic rushes that produce high-pitch bowel sounds, alternating colicky pain
with painless periods
pyloric stenosis - ANSWER: narrowing of the opening of the stomach to the duodenum
10-20% of infants effected
Type A Delta Fibers - ANSWER: Detects FAST, localized, somatic pain
Type C Fibers - ANSWER: Carry sensations of slow pain, or burning and aching pain
Cause a generalized activation of the reticular formation and thalamus
You become aware of the pain but only have a general idea of the area affected
what is indicated if vomiting is light and includes bile after surgery? - ANSWER: bowel
obstruction
,when is surgical abdominal pain unlikely? - ANSWER: when vomiting occurs prior to pain
or concurrent with pain
Types of visceral pain - ANSWER: tension pain, inflammatory pain, ischemic pain
Tension abdominal pain - ANSWER: "colic" abdominal pain caused by increased
forcefulness of peristaltic contraction ie: bowel trying to eject something irritating
Inflammatory abdominal pain - ANSWER: deep, poorly localized pain usually begins with
inflammation of the peritoneum
conditions that would cause tension abdominal pain - ANSWER: gastroenteritis,
constipation, acute pancreatitis
General history to obtain when a person is having abdominal pain. - ANSWER: hx of
N/V, bowel habits (diarrhea/constipation), characteristics of pain, associated factors (fever,
chills, heart burn), stool characteristics
most common abdominal condition for pediatric patients - ANSWER: intussusception
what can abdominal pain in the first 22 weeks of pregnancy indicate? - ANSWER:
spontaneous abortion or ectopic pregnancy
what can abdominal pain after 22 weeks of pregnancy indicate? - ANSWER: amnionitis,
acute pyelonephritis, pre-term labor, abruptio placentae, ruptured uterus
amnionitis - ANSWER: inflammation of the amniotic sac secondary to infection
signs of amnionitis - ANSWER: fever, abdo pain, hx of foul smelling, watery vaginal
discharge
,signs of pre-term labor - ANSWER: rhythmic contractions, with abdo pain, with/without
blood stained mucus prior to 37-weeks gestation
Signs of abruptio placenta - ANSWER: intermittent or constant abdo pain with tense or
tender uterus and low or decreased fetal movement with/without symptoms of shock
signs of ruptured uterus - ANSWER: severe abdo pain, abdo tenderness with abnormal
uterine contour and easily palpable fetal parts
what abdominal disorders are elderly patients at risk of? - ANSWER: biliary tract disease,
diverticulitis, triple A, mesenteric ischemia, bowel obstruction, malignancy
Mesenteric adenitis - ANSWER: Self-limiting, usually viral inflammatory condition of
mesenteric lymph nodes Normal appendix. Cluster of large right lower quadrant lymph
nodes.
appendicitis - ANSWER: inflammation of the appendix
Ischemic abdominal pain - ANSWER: Deep, intense pain with acute onset, typically more
localized, and worse with eating (because O2 demand increases when ischemic tissue must
do work, including digestion).
not relieved with analgesia
Think: Ischemic bowel or mesenteric artery infarct
symptoms of ectopic pregnancy - ANSWER: apoplectic lower abdo pain, vague pain,
intermittent pain, all levels of vaginal bleeding
stable - ANSWER: pt presents with normal clinical findings and history leading to
admission that is not life or limb threatening
, unstable - ANSWER: pt presents with abnormal clinical findings and history that is
considered life or limb threatening
potentially unstable - ANSWER: pt presents with normal clinical findings but history
leading to admission warrants concerns and ongoing observation
Objective secondary assessment - ANSWER: head-to-toe
Subjective data - ANSWER: data from and is concerned with an individual
information specific to that person's experience of symptoms
Objective data - ANSWER: data observed to others
Questions to determine if assessment should follow CAB vs ABC? - ANSWER: does pt
need CPR? does pt have uncontrolled bleeding?
Airway and C-spine data to collect for primary assessment - ANSWER: look, listen and
feel for air movement, clarity of speech, patency vs adventitious sounds, AVPU, c-spine
Breathing data to collect for primary assessment - ANSWER: rate, effort, quality of resp,
auscultate lungs, skin color
Circulation data to collect for primary assessment - ANSWER: skin (color, temp,
moisture), cap refill time, pulses, quality rate/rhythm, chest pain?
Disability/Dextrose/Doctor data to collect for primary assessment - ANSWER: reassess
AVPU, GCS, PEARLA, CBG
Call EP if necessary
Administer antiemetic if indicated
