Gastrointestinal Practice Questions With Complete
Solutions
The 22-year-old female who is obese is discussing weight loss
programs with the
nurse. Which information should the nurse teach?
1. Jog for two (2) to three (3) hours every day.
2. Lifestyle behaviors must be modified.
3. Eat one (1) large meal every day in the evening.
4. Eat 1,000 calories a day and don't take vitamins. Correct
Answer 2
The 36-year-old female client diagnosed with anorexia nervosa
tells the nurse
"I am so fat. I won't be able to eat today." Which response by the
nurse is most
appropriate?
1. "Can you tell me why you think you are fat?"
2. "You are skinny. Many women wish they had your problem."
3. "If you don't eat, we will have to restrain you and feed you."
4. "Not eating might cause physical problems." Correct Answer
4
The 79-year-old client diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis is
admitted to the
medical unit. Which task would be most appropriate for the
nurse to delegate to
the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
1. Evaluate the client's intake and output.
2. Take the client's vital signs.
3. Change the client's intravenous solution.
,4. Assess the client's perianal area. Correct Answer 2
The 84-year-old client comes to the clinic complaining of right
lower abdominal
pain. Which question is most appropriate for the nurse to ask the
client?
1. "When was your last bowel movement?"
2. "Did you have a high-fat meal last night?"
3. "Can you describe the type of pain?"
4. "Have you been experiencing any gas?" Correct Answer 3
The 85-year-old male client diagnosed with cancer of the colon
asks the nurse, "Why
did I get this cancer?" Which statement is the nurse's best
response?
1. "Research shows a lack of fiber in the diet can cause colon
cancer."
2. "It is not common to get colon cancer at your age; it is usually
in young people."
3. "No one knows why anyone gets cancer, it just happens to
certain people."
4. "Women usually get colon cancer more often than men but
not always." Correct Answer 1
The charge nurse has just received the shift report. Which client
should the nurse
see first?
1. The client diagnosed with Crohn's disease who had two (2)
semiformed stools on the previous shift.
2. The elderly client admitted from another facility who is
complaining of constipation.
,3. The client diagnosed with AIDS who had a 200-mL diarrhea
stool and has elastic skin tissue turgor.
4. The client diagnosed with hemorrhoids who had some
spotting of bright red blood on the toilet tissue. Correct Answer
2
The charge nurse is making assignments. Staffing includes a
registered nurse with five (5) years of medical-surgical
experience, a newly graduated registered nurse, and two (2)
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs). Which client should be
assigned to
the most experienced nurse?
1. The 39-year-old client diagnosed with lower esophageal
dysfunction who is
complaining of pyrosis.
2. The 54-year-old client diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus
who is scheduled to
have an endoscopy this morning.
3. The 46-year-old client diagnosed with gastroesophageal
reflux disease who has
wheezes in all five (5) lobes.
4. The 68-year-old client who is three (3) days postoperative for
hiatal hernia and
needs to be ambulated four (4) times today. Correct Answer 3
The charge nurse is monitoring client laboratory values. Which
value is expected in
the client with cholecystitis who has chronic inflammation?
1. An elevated white blood cell count.
2. A decreased lactate dehydrogenase.
3. An elevated alkaline phosphatase.
, 4. A decreased direct bilirubin level. Correct Answer 1
The client being admitted from the emergency department is
diagnosed with a fecal
impaction. Which nursing intervention should be implemented?
1. Administer an antidiarrheal medication every day and PRN.
2. Perform bowel training every two (2) hours.
3. Administer an oil retention enema.
4. Prepare for an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series x-ray.
Correct Answer 3
The client complains to the nurse of unhappiness with the
health-care provider.
Which intervention should the nurse implement next?
1. Call the HCP and suggest he or she talk with the client.
2. Determine what about the HCP is bothering the client.
3. Notify the nursing supervisor to arrange a new HCP to take
over.
4. Explain the client cannot request another HCP until after
discharge. Correct Answer 2
The client developed a paralytic ileus after abdominal surgery.
Which intervention
should the nurse include in the plan of care?
1. Administer a laxative of choice.
2. Encourage client to increase oral fluids.
3. Encourage client to take deep breaths.
4. Maintain a patent nasogastric tube. Correct Answer 4
The client diagnosed with acute diverticulitis is complaining of
severe abdominal
Solutions
The 22-year-old female who is obese is discussing weight loss
programs with the
nurse. Which information should the nurse teach?
1. Jog for two (2) to three (3) hours every day.
2. Lifestyle behaviors must be modified.
3. Eat one (1) large meal every day in the evening.
4. Eat 1,000 calories a day and don't take vitamins. Correct
Answer 2
The 36-year-old female client diagnosed with anorexia nervosa
tells the nurse
"I am so fat. I won't be able to eat today." Which response by the
nurse is most
appropriate?
1. "Can you tell me why you think you are fat?"
2. "You are skinny. Many women wish they had your problem."
3. "If you don't eat, we will have to restrain you and feed you."
4. "Not eating might cause physical problems." Correct Answer
4
The 79-year-old client diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis is
admitted to the
medical unit. Which task would be most appropriate for the
nurse to delegate to
the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
1. Evaluate the client's intake and output.
2. Take the client's vital signs.
3. Change the client's intravenous solution.
,4. Assess the client's perianal area. Correct Answer 2
The 84-year-old client comes to the clinic complaining of right
lower abdominal
pain. Which question is most appropriate for the nurse to ask the
client?
1. "When was your last bowel movement?"
2. "Did you have a high-fat meal last night?"
3. "Can you describe the type of pain?"
4. "Have you been experiencing any gas?" Correct Answer 3
The 85-year-old male client diagnosed with cancer of the colon
asks the nurse, "Why
did I get this cancer?" Which statement is the nurse's best
response?
1. "Research shows a lack of fiber in the diet can cause colon
cancer."
2. "It is not common to get colon cancer at your age; it is usually
in young people."
3. "No one knows why anyone gets cancer, it just happens to
certain people."
4. "Women usually get colon cancer more often than men but
not always." Correct Answer 1
The charge nurse has just received the shift report. Which client
should the nurse
see first?
1. The client diagnosed with Crohn's disease who had two (2)
semiformed stools on the previous shift.
2. The elderly client admitted from another facility who is
complaining of constipation.
,3. The client diagnosed with AIDS who had a 200-mL diarrhea
stool and has elastic skin tissue turgor.
4. The client diagnosed with hemorrhoids who had some
spotting of bright red blood on the toilet tissue. Correct Answer
2
The charge nurse is making assignments. Staffing includes a
registered nurse with five (5) years of medical-surgical
experience, a newly graduated registered nurse, and two (2)
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs). Which client should be
assigned to
the most experienced nurse?
1. The 39-year-old client diagnosed with lower esophageal
dysfunction who is
complaining of pyrosis.
2. The 54-year-old client diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus
who is scheduled to
have an endoscopy this morning.
3. The 46-year-old client diagnosed with gastroesophageal
reflux disease who has
wheezes in all five (5) lobes.
4. The 68-year-old client who is three (3) days postoperative for
hiatal hernia and
needs to be ambulated four (4) times today. Correct Answer 3
The charge nurse is monitoring client laboratory values. Which
value is expected in
the client with cholecystitis who has chronic inflammation?
1. An elevated white blood cell count.
2. A decreased lactate dehydrogenase.
3. An elevated alkaline phosphatase.
, 4. A decreased direct bilirubin level. Correct Answer 1
The client being admitted from the emergency department is
diagnosed with a fecal
impaction. Which nursing intervention should be implemented?
1. Administer an antidiarrheal medication every day and PRN.
2. Perform bowel training every two (2) hours.
3. Administer an oil retention enema.
4. Prepare for an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series x-ray.
Correct Answer 3
The client complains to the nurse of unhappiness with the
health-care provider.
Which intervention should the nurse implement next?
1. Call the HCP and suggest he or she talk with the client.
2. Determine what about the HCP is bothering the client.
3. Notify the nursing supervisor to arrange a new HCP to take
over.
4. Explain the client cannot request another HCP until after
discharge. Correct Answer 2
The client developed a paralytic ileus after abdominal surgery.
Which intervention
should the nurse include in the plan of care?
1. Administer a laxative of choice.
2. Encourage client to increase oral fluids.
3. Encourage client to take deep breaths.
4. Maintain a patent nasogastric tube. Correct Answer 4
The client diagnosed with acute diverticulitis is complaining of
severe abdominal
