NURS 317 UNIT 2 2026/2027 – STUDY GUIDE, EXAM
QUESTIONS & PRACTICE REVIEW
The patient had surgery 2 days ago and bowel motility has not returned. What drug might the
nurse administer to stimulate the GI tract?
A. Dex panthenol
B. Docusate
C. Psyllium (Metamucil)
D. Senna - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Dex panthenol (58)
A client has been diagnosed with an incompetent pyloric sphincter. This client is experiencing a
lot of abdominal pain and nausea. When this client vomits, the nurse should expect what type
of secretions in the basin?
A. Green, stringy emesis
B. Bright red, bloody emesis
C. Thick, brownish, foul-smelling emesis
D. Clear mucous-looking emesis - Correct answer ✔✔ C. Thick, brownish, foul-smelling emesis
(28
A client who has had his gallbladder removed asks the nurse, "Why do I feel sick every time I go
through a drive in fast food restaurant and order burger and fries?" The nurse bases the
response knowing that:
A. The restaurant may have "bad" grease in their fryer
B. Without a gallbladder, the size of the pts stomach has been decreased
C. Bile from the gallbladder is needed to break down lipids
D. When the gallbladder is removed, the pancreatic duct is also removed. - Correct answer ✔✔
C. Bile from the gallbladder is needed to break down lipids (28)
,A client asks the nurse to explain the digestive tract layers because the client is experiencing
upper GI problems. When talking about the mucosa layer, the nruse will emphasize that the
roles/functions of this layer consist of: Select all that apply.
A. Production of mucous to protect and lubricate the inner lining
B. Beginning of the digestive process by secreting enzymes to break food down
C. Contracting of smooth muscles to propel food forward
D. Supporting the abdominal viscera with its con - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Production of mucous
to protect and lubricate the inner lining
B. Beginning of the digestive process by secreting enzymes to break food down (28)
A client has been told he has abdominal adhesions due to an old appendix infection. Knowing
the structures of the abdominal cavity, the nurse will explain which of the following structures
can form bands of fibrous scar tissue to wall off the infection, preventing it from spreading to
other parts of the body?
A. Mesentery
B. Omentum
C. Haustration
D. Peritoneum - Correct answer ✔✔ B. Omentum (28)
Motility along the length of the GI tract, controlling the function of each segment of the GI tract
and integrating signals for absorption of nutrients primarily, is innervated by which portion of
the enteric nervous system?
A) Submucosal plexus
B) Vasovagal
C) Sympathetic
D) Preganglionic - Correct answer ✔✔ A) Submucosal plexus(28)
,When trying to explain to a newly diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) client how the
nervous system affects GI disorders, the nurse mentions which of the following in regard to IBS?
A. Increase in smooth muscle tone
B. Enhancement of sphincter function
C. Decrease in GI motility
D. Increase in enteric nervous system activity - Correct answer ✔✔ D. Increase in enteric
nervous system activity (28)
The client chews an apple and starts the swallowing process. As the food bolus enters the back
of the mouth and swallowing is initiated, the nurse knows that the client's motor impulses are
being carried out by which of the following cranial nerves? Select all that apply.
A. Trigeminal (V)
B. Vagus (X)
C. Hypoglossal (XII)
D. Abducent (VI) - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Trigeminal (V)
B. Vagus (X)
C. Hypoglossal (XII) (28)
In the stomach, chyme is churned by peristalsis into the antrum, which contracts, reverses the
flow, and allows more churning. Because the pylorus is contracted during antral contraction,
gastric content empties into the duodenum:
A. During bile secretion
B. Between contractions
C. During opening of the pyloric sphincter
D. Under gaseous pressure - Correct answer ✔✔ B. Between contractions (28)
While assessing a client who is experiencing diarrhea caused by C. Diff, the nurse should
anticipate hearing:
, A. Normal bowel sounds
B. Hypoactive bowel sounds
C. Absence of bowel sounds
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds - Correct answer ✔✔ D. Hyperactive bowel sounds (28)
A client who is quadriplegic following a motor vehicle accident adheres to a bowel protocol to
promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation. Which of the following actions
performed by the client's caregiver is likely to promote defecation?
A. Digital stimulation of the client's rectum
B. Massage of the client's abdomen
C. Sitting to client in an upright position
D. Administration of large amounts of free water - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Digital stimulation of
the client's rectum (28)
While planning care for a client with irritable bowel syndrome, knowing the client has an
increased amount of secretions with impaired GI absorption, the priority nursing diagnosis
would be:
A. Fluid volume deficit
B. Hypotonic GI motility
C. Fatigue
D. Metabolic acidosis - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Fluid volume deficit (28)
When discussing digestion with a group of nursing students, the instructor asks, "where does
the digestion of our food begin?" The most accurate response would be?
A. The stomach with its hydrochloric acid production
B. The duodenum with common bile duct secreations
C. The mouth with ptyalin and amylase breaking down starches
QUESTIONS & PRACTICE REVIEW
The patient had surgery 2 days ago and bowel motility has not returned. What drug might the
nurse administer to stimulate the GI tract?
A. Dex panthenol
B. Docusate
C. Psyllium (Metamucil)
D. Senna - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Dex panthenol (58)
A client has been diagnosed with an incompetent pyloric sphincter. This client is experiencing a
lot of abdominal pain and nausea. When this client vomits, the nurse should expect what type
of secretions in the basin?
A. Green, stringy emesis
B. Bright red, bloody emesis
C. Thick, brownish, foul-smelling emesis
D. Clear mucous-looking emesis - Correct answer ✔✔ C. Thick, brownish, foul-smelling emesis
(28
A client who has had his gallbladder removed asks the nurse, "Why do I feel sick every time I go
through a drive in fast food restaurant and order burger and fries?" The nurse bases the
response knowing that:
A. The restaurant may have "bad" grease in their fryer
B. Without a gallbladder, the size of the pts stomach has been decreased
C. Bile from the gallbladder is needed to break down lipids
D. When the gallbladder is removed, the pancreatic duct is also removed. - Correct answer ✔✔
C. Bile from the gallbladder is needed to break down lipids (28)
,A client asks the nurse to explain the digestive tract layers because the client is experiencing
upper GI problems. When talking about the mucosa layer, the nruse will emphasize that the
roles/functions of this layer consist of: Select all that apply.
A. Production of mucous to protect and lubricate the inner lining
B. Beginning of the digestive process by secreting enzymes to break food down
C. Contracting of smooth muscles to propel food forward
D. Supporting the abdominal viscera with its con - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Production of mucous
to protect and lubricate the inner lining
B. Beginning of the digestive process by secreting enzymes to break food down (28)
A client has been told he has abdominal adhesions due to an old appendix infection. Knowing
the structures of the abdominal cavity, the nurse will explain which of the following structures
can form bands of fibrous scar tissue to wall off the infection, preventing it from spreading to
other parts of the body?
A. Mesentery
B. Omentum
C. Haustration
D. Peritoneum - Correct answer ✔✔ B. Omentum (28)
Motility along the length of the GI tract, controlling the function of each segment of the GI tract
and integrating signals for absorption of nutrients primarily, is innervated by which portion of
the enteric nervous system?
A) Submucosal plexus
B) Vasovagal
C) Sympathetic
D) Preganglionic - Correct answer ✔✔ A) Submucosal plexus(28)
,When trying to explain to a newly diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) client how the
nervous system affects GI disorders, the nurse mentions which of the following in regard to IBS?
A. Increase in smooth muscle tone
B. Enhancement of sphincter function
C. Decrease in GI motility
D. Increase in enteric nervous system activity - Correct answer ✔✔ D. Increase in enteric
nervous system activity (28)
The client chews an apple and starts the swallowing process. As the food bolus enters the back
of the mouth and swallowing is initiated, the nurse knows that the client's motor impulses are
being carried out by which of the following cranial nerves? Select all that apply.
A. Trigeminal (V)
B. Vagus (X)
C. Hypoglossal (XII)
D. Abducent (VI) - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Trigeminal (V)
B. Vagus (X)
C. Hypoglossal (XII) (28)
In the stomach, chyme is churned by peristalsis into the antrum, which contracts, reverses the
flow, and allows more churning. Because the pylorus is contracted during antral contraction,
gastric content empties into the duodenum:
A. During bile secretion
B. Between contractions
C. During opening of the pyloric sphincter
D. Under gaseous pressure - Correct answer ✔✔ B. Between contractions (28)
While assessing a client who is experiencing diarrhea caused by C. Diff, the nurse should
anticipate hearing:
, A. Normal bowel sounds
B. Hypoactive bowel sounds
C. Absence of bowel sounds
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds - Correct answer ✔✔ D. Hyperactive bowel sounds (28)
A client who is quadriplegic following a motor vehicle accident adheres to a bowel protocol to
promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation. Which of the following actions
performed by the client's caregiver is likely to promote defecation?
A. Digital stimulation of the client's rectum
B. Massage of the client's abdomen
C. Sitting to client in an upright position
D. Administration of large amounts of free water - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Digital stimulation of
the client's rectum (28)
While planning care for a client with irritable bowel syndrome, knowing the client has an
increased amount of secretions with impaired GI absorption, the priority nursing diagnosis
would be:
A. Fluid volume deficit
B. Hypotonic GI motility
C. Fatigue
D. Metabolic acidosis - Correct answer ✔✔ A. Fluid volume deficit (28)
When discussing digestion with a group of nursing students, the instructor asks, "where does
the digestion of our food begin?" The most accurate response would be?
A. The stomach with its hydrochloric acid production
B. The duodenum with common bile duct secreations
C. The mouth with ptyalin and amylase breaking down starches
