FLORIDA BOARD OF NURSING CERTIFIED
GASTROENTEROLOGY NURSE EXAM WITH
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 58-year-old patient with a history of chronic gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) reports progressive difficulty swallowing
solid foods. The patient initially noticed difficulty swallowing meat
but now has difficulty swallowing bread and liquids. Which finding
is most concerning and requires the nurse to prioritize further
evaluation?
A. Heartburn occurring after spicy meals
B. Occasional belching after eating
C. Progressive dysphagia involving both solids and liquids
D. Mild epigastric discomfort relieved by antacids
Answer: C. Progressive dysphagia involving both solids and liquids
Rationale: Progressive dysphagia is an alarm symptom that requires
prompt evaluation because it may indicate an obstructing lesion,
stricture, malignancy, or significant esophageal motility disorder.
Dysphagia that progresses from solids to liquids can suggest
mechanical obstruction that has worsened over time. Simple heartburn
and belching are common GERD manifestations and are generally
less urgent in isolation.
1
,2. A patient with cirrhosis presents with hematemesis, hypotension,
tachycardia, and altered mental status. Esophageal variceal bleeding
is suspected. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
A. Administer an oral proton pump inhibitor
B. Establish large-bore intravenous access and support hemodynamic
stability
C. Place the patient on a high-fiber diet
D. Encourage ambulation to prevent venous stasis
Answer: B. Establish large-bore intravenous access and support
hemodynamic stability
Rationale: Acute variceal hemorrhage is a life-threatening emergency.
Initial management prioritizes airway, breathing, circulation, rapid
vascular access, fluid/blood-product resuscitation as indicated, and
urgent coordination for definitive hemostatic therapy. Oral
medications and dietary interventions are inappropriate priorities
during active massive gastrointestinal bleeding.
3. During preparation for colonoscopy, a patient receiving bowel
preparation develops severe abdominal distention, persistent
vomiting, and increasing abdominal pain. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Tell the patient these symptoms are expected
B. Administer additional bowel preparation
C. Stop the preparation and notify the healthcare provider promptly
D. Encourage the patient to drink carbonated beverages
Answer: C. Stop the preparation and notify the healthcare provider
promptly
Rationale: Severe distention, vomiting, and increasing abdominal pain
during bowel preparation may indicate obstruction, ileus, perforation,
2
,or another serious complication. Continuing the bowel preparation
could worsen the patient's condition. The nurse should stop the
preparation, assess the patient, monitor vital signs, and promptly notify
the healthcare provider.
4. A patient with ulcerative colitis reports eight bloody stools per
day, fever, tachycardia, abdominal tenderness, and increasing
weakness. Which complication should the gastroenterology nurse be
particularly concerned about?
A. Toxic megacolon
B. Simple constipation
C. Gastroesophageal reflux
D. Cholelithiasis
Answer: A. Toxic megacolon
Rationale: Severe ulcerative colitis accompanied by systemic toxicity,
fever, tachycardia, abdominal distention or tenderness, and frequent
bloody stools raises concern for toxic megacolon. This potentially life-
threatening complication involves severe colonic inflammation and
dilation and can progress to perforation and sepsis.
5. A patient with Crohn disease is receiving biologic therapy. Which
assessment finding should cause the nurse to withhold the
medication and notify the healthcare provider for further
evaluation?
A. Mild hunger before lunch
B. New fever and productive cough
C. Occasional flatulence
D. Mild thirst after exercise
Answer: B. New fever and productive cough
3
, Rationale: Biologic agents that suppress immune pathways can
increase susceptibility to serious infections. New fever and respiratory
symptoms may indicate an active infection requiring evaluation before
immunosuppressive therapy is administered. The other findings are
nonspecific and do not independently suggest an acute infectious
process.
6. A patient with chronic GERD has been prescribed a proton pump
inhibitor (PPI). Which statement indicates correct understanding of
the medication?
A. "I should take it only after severe heartburn begins."
B. "I can stop it abruptly whenever my symptoms improve."
C. "I should take it according to the prescribed schedule, commonly
before a meal."
D. "This medication works by directly neutralizing stomach acid
immediately."
Answer: C. "I should take it according to the prescribed schedule,
commonly before a meal."
Rationale: PPIs suppress gastric acid secretion by inhibiting the
gastric proton pump. They are generally most effective when taken
appropriately in relation to meals and consistently as prescribed. They
are not simply immediate acid-neutralizing agents like antacids and
should not be independently discontinued or adjusted without
guidance.
7. A patient with cirrhosis becomes confused and demonstrates
asterixis. Which laboratory abnormality is most closely associated
with the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy?
4
GASTROENTEROLOGY NURSE EXAM WITH
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 58-year-old patient with a history of chronic gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) reports progressive difficulty swallowing
solid foods. The patient initially noticed difficulty swallowing meat
but now has difficulty swallowing bread and liquids. Which finding
is most concerning and requires the nurse to prioritize further
evaluation?
A. Heartburn occurring after spicy meals
B. Occasional belching after eating
C. Progressive dysphagia involving both solids and liquids
D. Mild epigastric discomfort relieved by antacids
Answer: C. Progressive dysphagia involving both solids and liquids
Rationale: Progressive dysphagia is an alarm symptom that requires
prompt evaluation because it may indicate an obstructing lesion,
stricture, malignancy, or significant esophageal motility disorder.
Dysphagia that progresses from solids to liquids can suggest
mechanical obstruction that has worsened over time. Simple heartburn
and belching are common GERD manifestations and are generally
less urgent in isolation.
1
,2. A patient with cirrhosis presents with hematemesis, hypotension,
tachycardia, and altered mental status. Esophageal variceal bleeding
is suspected. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
A. Administer an oral proton pump inhibitor
B. Establish large-bore intravenous access and support hemodynamic
stability
C. Place the patient on a high-fiber diet
D. Encourage ambulation to prevent venous stasis
Answer: B. Establish large-bore intravenous access and support
hemodynamic stability
Rationale: Acute variceal hemorrhage is a life-threatening emergency.
Initial management prioritizes airway, breathing, circulation, rapid
vascular access, fluid/blood-product resuscitation as indicated, and
urgent coordination for definitive hemostatic therapy. Oral
medications and dietary interventions are inappropriate priorities
during active massive gastrointestinal bleeding.
3. During preparation for colonoscopy, a patient receiving bowel
preparation develops severe abdominal distention, persistent
vomiting, and increasing abdominal pain. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Tell the patient these symptoms are expected
B. Administer additional bowel preparation
C. Stop the preparation and notify the healthcare provider promptly
D. Encourage the patient to drink carbonated beverages
Answer: C. Stop the preparation and notify the healthcare provider
promptly
Rationale: Severe distention, vomiting, and increasing abdominal pain
during bowel preparation may indicate obstruction, ileus, perforation,
2
,or another serious complication. Continuing the bowel preparation
could worsen the patient's condition. The nurse should stop the
preparation, assess the patient, monitor vital signs, and promptly notify
the healthcare provider.
4. A patient with ulcerative colitis reports eight bloody stools per
day, fever, tachycardia, abdominal tenderness, and increasing
weakness. Which complication should the gastroenterology nurse be
particularly concerned about?
A. Toxic megacolon
B. Simple constipation
C. Gastroesophageal reflux
D. Cholelithiasis
Answer: A. Toxic megacolon
Rationale: Severe ulcerative colitis accompanied by systemic toxicity,
fever, tachycardia, abdominal distention or tenderness, and frequent
bloody stools raises concern for toxic megacolon. This potentially life-
threatening complication involves severe colonic inflammation and
dilation and can progress to perforation and sepsis.
5. A patient with Crohn disease is receiving biologic therapy. Which
assessment finding should cause the nurse to withhold the
medication and notify the healthcare provider for further
evaluation?
A. Mild hunger before lunch
B. New fever and productive cough
C. Occasional flatulence
D. Mild thirst after exercise
Answer: B. New fever and productive cough
3
, Rationale: Biologic agents that suppress immune pathways can
increase susceptibility to serious infections. New fever and respiratory
symptoms may indicate an active infection requiring evaluation before
immunosuppressive therapy is administered. The other findings are
nonspecific and do not independently suggest an acute infectious
process.
6. A patient with chronic GERD has been prescribed a proton pump
inhibitor (PPI). Which statement indicates correct understanding of
the medication?
A. "I should take it only after severe heartburn begins."
B. "I can stop it abruptly whenever my symptoms improve."
C. "I should take it according to the prescribed schedule, commonly
before a meal."
D. "This medication works by directly neutralizing stomach acid
immediately."
Answer: C. "I should take it according to the prescribed schedule,
commonly before a meal."
Rationale: PPIs suppress gastric acid secretion by inhibiting the
gastric proton pump. They are generally most effective when taken
appropriately in relation to meals and consistently as prescribed. They
are not simply immediate acid-neutralizing agents like antacids and
should not be independently discontinued or adjusted without
guidance.
7. A patient with cirrhosis becomes confused and demonstrates
asterixis. Which laboratory abnormality is most closely associated
with the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy?
4
