NUR 417 EXAM 2 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE 2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ACCURATE ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Which action would the nurse plan when admitting a patient with
acute diverticulitis plan for initial care?
1. Administer IV fluids.
2. Prepare for colonoscopy.
3. Encourage a high-fiber diet.
4. Give stool softeners and enemas. Answer: 1. Administer IV fluids.
A patient with acute diverticulitis will be NPO and given parenteral
fluids. A diet high in fiber and fluids will be implemented before
discharge. Bulk-forming laxatives, rather than stool softeners, are
usually given. These will be implemented later in the hospitalization.
The patient with acute diverticulitis will not have enemas or a
colonoscopy because of the risk for perforation and peritonitis.
◉ A patient in the emergency department has just been diagnosed
with peritonitis from a ruptured diverticulum. Which prescribed
intervention will the nurse implement first?
,1. Send the patient for a CT scan.
2. Insert a urinary catheter to drainage.
3. Infuse metronidazole (Flagyl) 500 mg IV.
4. Place a nasogastric tube to intermittent low suction.. Answer: 3.
Infuse metronidazole (Flagyl) 500 mg IV.
Because peritonitis can be fatal if treatment is delayed, the initial
action would be to start antibiotic therapy (after any ordered
cultures are obtained). The other actions can be done after antibiotic
therapy is initiated.
◉ A patient calls the clinic reporting diarrhea for 24 hours. Which
action would the nurse take first?
1. Inform the patient that testing of blood and stools will be needed.
2. Suggest that the patient drink clear liquid fluids with electrolytes.
3. Ask the patient to describe the stools and any associated
symptoms.
4. Advise the patient to use over-the-counter antidiarrheal
medication.. Answer: 3. Ask the patient to describe the stools and
any associated symptoms.
,The initial response by the nurse should be further assessment of
the patient. The other responses may be appropriate, depending on
what is learned in the assessment.
◉ A patient is admitted to the emergency department with severe
abdominal pain and rebound tenderness. Vital signs include
temperature 102 F (38.3 C), pulse 120 beats/min, respirations 32
breaths/min, and blood pressure (BP) 82/54 mm Hg. Which
prescribed intervention would the nurse implement first?
1. Administer IV ketorolac 15 mg for pain relief.
2. Send a blood sample for a complete blood count (CBC).
3. Infuse a liter of lactated Ringer's solution over 30 minutes.
4. Send the patient for an abdominal computed tomography (CT)
scan.. Answer: 3. Infuse a liter of lactated Ringer's solution over 30
minutes.
The priority for this patient is to treat the patient's hypovolemic
shock with fluid infusion. The other actions should be implemented
after starting the fluid infusion.
◉ Which patient would the nurse assess first after receiving change-
of-shift report?
1. A 40-yr-old patient who has a distended abdomen and tachycardia
, 2. A 60-yr-old patient whose ileostomy has drained 800 mL over 8
hours
3. A 30-yr-old patient with ulcerative colitis who had six liquid stools
in 4 hours
4. A 50-yr-old patient with familial adenomatous polyposis who has
occult blood in the stool. Answer: 1. A 40-yr-old patient who has a
distended abdomen and tachycardia
The patient's abdominal distention and tachycardia suggest
hypovolemic shock caused by problems such as peritonitis or
intestinal obstruction, which will require rapid intervention. The
other patients would be assessed as quickly as possible, but the data
do not indicate any life-threatening complications associated with
their diagnoses.
◉ A 76-yr-old patient with obstipation has a fecal impaction and is
incontinent of liquid stool. Which action would the nurse take first?
1. Administer bulk-forming laxatives.
2. Assist the patient to sit on the toilet.
3. Manually remove the hard stool.
4. Increase the patient's oral fluid intake.. Answer: 3. Manually
remove the hard stool.
GUIDE 2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ACCURATE ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Which action would the nurse plan when admitting a patient with
acute diverticulitis plan for initial care?
1. Administer IV fluids.
2. Prepare for colonoscopy.
3. Encourage a high-fiber diet.
4. Give stool softeners and enemas. Answer: 1. Administer IV fluids.
A patient with acute diverticulitis will be NPO and given parenteral
fluids. A diet high in fiber and fluids will be implemented before
discharge. Bulk-forming laxatives, rather than stool softeners, are
usually given. These will be implemented later in the hospitalization.
The patient with acute diverticulitis will not have enemas or a
colonoscopy because of the risk for perforation and peritonitis.
◉ A patient in the emergency department has just been diagnosed
with peritonitis from a ruptured diverticulum. Which prescribed
intervention will the nurse implement first?
,1. Send the patient for a CT scan.
2. Insert a urinary catheter to drainage.
3. Infuse metronidazole (Flagyl) 500 mg IV.
4. Place a nasogastric tube to intermittent low suction.. Answer: 3.
Infuse metronidazole (Flagyl) 500 mg IV.
Because peritonitis can be fatal if treatment is delayed, the initial
action would be to start antibiotic therapy (after any ordered
cultures are obtained). The other actions can be done after antibiotic
therapy is initiated.
◉ A patient calls the clinic reporting diarrhea for 24 hours. Which
action would the nurse take first?
1. Inform the patient that testing of blood and stools will be needed.
2. Suggest that the patient drink clear liquid fluids with electrolytes.
3. Ask the patient to describe the stools and any associated
symptoms.
4. Advise the patient to use over-the-counter antidiarrheal
medication.. Answer: 3. Ask the patient to describe the stools and
any associated symptoms.
,The initial response by the nurse should be further assessment of
the patient. The other responses may be appropriate, depending on
what is learned in the assessment.
◉ A patient is admitted to the emergency department with severe
abdominal pain and rebound tenderness. Vital signs include
temperature 102 F (38.3 C), pulse 120 beats/min, respirations 32
breaths/min, and blood pressure (BP) 82/54 mm Hg. Which
prescribed intervention would the nurse implement first?
1. Administer IV ketorolac 15 mg for pain relief.
2. Send a blood sample for a complete blood count (CBC).
3. Infuse a liter of lactated Ringer's solution over 30 minutes.
4. Send the patient for an abdominal computed tomography (CT)
scan.. Answer: 3. Infuse a liter of lactated Ringer's solution over 30
minutes.
The priority for this patient is to treat the patient's hypovolemic
shock with fluid infusion. The other actions should be implemented
after starting the fluid infusion.
◉ Which patient would the nurse assess first after receiving change-
of-shift report?
1. A 40-yr-old patient who has a distended abdomen and tachycardia
, 2. A 60-yr-old patient whose ileostomy has drained 800 mL over 8
hours
3. A 30-yr-old patient with ulcerative colitis who had six liquid stools
in 4 hours
4. A 50-yr-old patient with familial adenomatous polyposis who has
occult blood in the stool. Answer: 1. A 40-yr-old patient who has a
distended abdomen and tachycardia
The patient's abdominal distention and tachycardia suggest
hypovolemic shock caused by problems such as peritonitis or
intestinal obstruction, which will require rapid intervention. The
other patients would be assessed as quickly as possible, but the data
do not indicate any life-threatening complications associated with
their diagnoses.
◉ A 76-yr-old patient with obstipation has a fecal impaction and is
incontinent of liquid stool. Which action would the nurse take first?
1. Administer bulk-forming laxatives.
2. Assist the patient to sit on the toilet.
3. Manually remove the hard stool.
4. Increase the patient's oral fluid intake.. Answer: 3. Manually
remove the hard stool.
