STUVIA 2024/2025
Chapter 42: Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders
A patient who experiences motion sickness when flying asks the nurse the best time to take the
medication prescribed to prevent motion sickness for a 0900 flight. The nurse will instruct the patient
to take the medication at which time?
a. As needed, at the first sign of nausea
b. At 0700, before leaving for the airport
c. At 0830, just prior to boarding the plane
d. When seated, just prior to takeoff - ✔✔ANS: C
Motion sickness medication has its onset in 30 minutes. The patient should be instructed to take the
medication a half hour prior to takeoff. It is not used as needed.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has unexplained, recurrent vomiting and who is unable to keep
anything down. Until the cause of the vomiting is determined, the nurse will anticipate administering
which medications?
a. Antibiotics and antiemetics
b. Intravenous fluids and electrolytes
c. Nonprescription antiemetics
d. Prescription antiemetics - ✔✔ANS: B
%
Antiemetics can mask the underlying cause of vomiting and should not be used until the cause is
determined unless vomiting is so severe that dehydration and electrolyte imbalance occur.
Nonpharmacologic measures, such as fluid and electrolyte replacement, should be used. Antibiotics
are only used if an infectious cause is determined.
The parent of an 18-month-old toddler calls the clinic to report that the child has vomited 5 times that
day. The nurse determines that the child has had three wet diapers in the past 6 hours. What will the
nurse recommend for this child?
a. Administering an OTC antiemetic medication such as diphenhydramine
b. Giving frequent, small amounts of Pedialyte
c. Keeping the child NPO until vomiting subsides
d. Taking the child to the emergency department for IV fluids - ✔✔ANS: B
The child is not dehydrated as evidenced by adequate wet diapers, so nonpharmacologic measures,
such as oral fluids, are recommended. Antiemetics are not recommended unless dehydration occurs.
Intravenous fluids are given when dehydration is present.
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, STUVIA 2024/2025
The nurse is teaching a patient who is about to take a long car trip about using dimenhydrinate
(Dramamine) to prevent motion sickness. What information is important to include when teaching this
patient?
a. "Do not drive while taking this medication."
b. "Dry mouth is a sign of toxicity with this medication."
c. "Take the medication 1 to 2 hours prior to beginning the trip."
d. "Take 100 mg up to 6 times daily for best effect." - ✔✔ANS: A
Drowsiness is a common side effect of dimenhydrinate, so patients should be cautioned against
driving while taking this drug. Dry mouth is a common side effect and not a sign of toxicity. The drug
should be taken 30 minutes prior to travel. The maximum recommended dose is 400 mg per day.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has postoperative nausea and vomiting. The surgeon has
ordered promethazine HCl (Phenergan). Which aspect of this patient's health history would be of
concern?
a. Asthma
b. Diabetes
c. GERD
d. Glaucoma - ✔✔ANS: D
%
Promethazine is contraindicated in patients with glaucoma since it is an anticholinergic medication. It
should be used with caution in patients with asthma. The other two conditions are not concerning with
this medication.
The nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the use of antipsychotic drugs for antiemetic
purposes. The nurse will explain that, when given as antiemetics, these drugs are given:
a. in smaller doses.
b. less frequently.
c. with anticholinergics.
d. with antihistamines. - ✔✔ANS: A
Antipsychotic medications are used in smaller doses when administered for antiemetic purposes.
A patient who is receiving chemotherapy will be given dronabinol (Marinol) to prevent nausea and
vomiting. The nurse will tell the patient that this drug will be given at which time?
a. Before and after the chemotherapy
b. During chemotherapy
c. Immediately prior to chemotherapy
d. 24 hours prior to chemotherapy - ✔✔ANS: A
stuvia
Chapter 42: Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders
A patient who experiences motion sickness when flying asks the nurse the best time to take the
medication prescribed to prevent motion sickness for a 0900 flight. The nurse will instruct the patient
to take the medication at which time?
a. As needed, at the first sign of nausea
b. At 0700, before leaving for the airport
c. At 0830, just prior to boarding the plane
d. When seated, just prior to takeoff - ✔✔ANS: C
Motion sickness medication has its onset in 30 minutes. The patient should be instructed to take the
medication a half hour prior to takeoff. It is not used as needed.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has unexplained, recurrent vomiting and who is unable to keep
anything down. Until the cause of the vomiting is determined, the nurse will anticipate administering
which medications?
a. Antibiotics and antiemetics
b. Intravenous fluids and electrolytes
c. Nonprescription antiemetics
d. Prescription antiemetics - ✔✔ANS: B
%
Antiemetics can mask the underlying cause of vomiting and should not be used until the cause is
determined unless vomiting is so severe that dehydration and electrolyte imbalance occur.
Nonpharmacologic measures, such as fluid and electrolyte replacement, should be used. Antibiotics
are only used if an infectious cause is determined.
The parent of an 18-month-old toddler calls the clinic to report that the child has vomited 5 times that
day. The nurse determines that the child has had three wet diapers in the past 6 hours. What will the
nurse recommend for this child?
a. Administering an OTC antiemetic medication such as diphenhydramine
b. Giving frequent, small amounts of Pedialyte
c. Keeping the child NPO until vomiting subsides
d. Taking the child to the emergency department for IV fluids - ✔✔ANS: B
The child is not dehydrated as evidenced by adequate wet diapers, so nonpharmacologic measures,
such as oral fluids, are recommended. Antiemetics are not recommended unless dehydration occurs.
Intravenous fluids are given when dehydration is present.
stuvia
, STUVIA 2024/2025
The nurse is teaching a patient who is about to take a long car trip about using dimenhydrinate
(Dramamine) to prevent motion sickness. What information is important to include when teaching this
patient?
a. "Do not drive while taking this medication."
b. "Dry mouth is a sign of toxicity with this medication."
c. "Take the medication 1 to 2 hours prior to beginning the trip."
d. "Take 100 mg up to 6 times daily for best effect." - ✔✔ANS: A
Drowsiness is a common side effect of dimenhydrinate, so patients should be cautioned against
driving while taking this drug. Dry mouth is a common side effect and not a sign of toxicity. The drug
should be taken 30 minutes prior to travel. The maximum recommended dose is 400 mg per day.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has postoperative nausea and vomiting. The surgeon has
ordered promethazine HCl (Phenergan). Which aspect of this patient's health history would be of
concern?
a. Asthma
b. Diabetes
c. GERD
d. Glaucoma - ✔✔ANS: D
%
Promethazine is contraindicated in patients with glaucoma since it is an anticholinergic medication. It
should be used with caution in patients with asthma. The other two conditions are not concerning with
this medication.
The nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the use of antipsychotic drugs for antiemetic
purposes. The nurse will explain that, when given as antiemetics, these drugs are given:
a. in smaller doses.
b. less frequently.
c. with anticholinergics.
d. with antihistamines. - ✔✔ANS: A
Antipsychotic medications are used in smaller doses when administered for antiemetic purposes.
A patient who is receiving chemotherapy will be given dronabinol (Marinol) to prevent nausea and
vomiting. The nurse will tell the patient that this drug will be given at which time?
a. Before and after the chemotherapy
b. During chemotherapy
c. Immediately prior to chemotherapy
d. 24 hours prior to chemotherapy - ✔✔ANS: A
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