HCAL Exam 3 Practice Questions
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Which additional
finding indicates the possibility of intestinal obstruction?
a. active bowel sounds
b. soft and rounded abdomen
c. report of occasional flatulence
d. last bowel movement was a week ago - Answer-ANS: D
last bowel movement was a week ago
Match the location of the intestinal obstruction to the corresponding patient report of symptoms
a. "I have been vomiting every few hours for 3 days."
b. "The pain in my belly just will not go away."
c. "I have gradually become more constipated."
1. distal SI
2. proximal SI
3. large intestine - Answer-ANS:
,"I have been vomiting every few hours for 3 days." → proximal SI
"The pain in my belly just will not go away." → large intestine
"I have gradually become more constipated." → distal SI
Which patients are at an increased risk for developing a mechanical obstruction? (SATA)
a. Patient with a L5 spinal compression fracture
b. Patient with 10-year history of Crohn's disease
c. Patient with serum K of 2.5 mEq/L
d. Patient with atherosclerosis of mesenteric artery
e. Patient who has undergone multiple abdominal surgeries - Answer-ANS: B, E
Patient with 10-year history of Crohn's disease
Patient who has undergone multiple abdominal surgeries
The nurse is caring for a patient with N, V, and severe pain. For which health care provider order would
the nurse anticipate to prepare the patient?
a. fecal occult blood
b. obstructive series
c. expiatory laprotomy
d. MRI - Answer-ANS: B
obstructive series
,The nurse is caring for a patient with an intestinal obstruction caused by strictures. For which procedure
would the nurse anticipate to prepare the patient?
a. obstructive series
b. surgical ileostomy formation
c. stent placement via endoscopy
d. computerized tomography scan (CT) - Answer-ANS: C
stent placement via endoscopy
The nurse is caring for a patient with intestinal obstruction. Which lab finding would be most
concerning?
a. K of 5.0 mEq/L
b. HBG of 11.0 g/dL
c. Platelet of 150,000 mcL
d. WBC of 18.0 cells/mcL - Answer-ANS: D
WBC of 18.0 cells/mcL
The nurse is providing post-op care for a patient with an intestinal obstruction. The nurse takes the
patient's vital signs and notes a HR of 105, RR 12, SpO2 92%, and T or 102.3°F. Which intervention
should be implemented? (SATA)
a. Provide stoma care
b. Administer antibiotic
c. Assess NG tube
, d. Administer antipyretic
e. Assess abdominal incision
f. Ask patient to turn, cough, and breathe deeply - Answer-ANS: A, B, D, E
Provide stoma care
Administer antibiotic
Administer antipyretic
Assess abdominal incision
The nurse is caring for a patient with intestinal obstruction. The patient has an NGT in place and is
receiving IV fluid therapy. The nurse understands that which assessment findings indicate the treatment
is effective? (SATA)
a. normoactive bowel sounds
b. decrease in N and V
c. serum K of 3.8 mEq/L
d. FBG of 91 mg/dL
e. WBC of 14.0 cells/mcL - Answer-ANS: A, B, C
normoactive bowel sounds
decrease in N and V
serum K of 3.8 mEq/L
A patient with an intestinal obstruction recently had surgery to create an ileostomy. In the immediate
post-op period, the nurse who is caring for the patient anticipates assessing for which frequent
complication of this surgery?
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Which additional
finding indicates the possibility of intestinal obstruction?
a. active bowel sounds
b. soft and rounded abdomen
c. report of occasional flatulence
d. last bowel movement was a week ago - Answer-ANS: D
last bowel movement was a week ago
Match the location of the intestinal obstruction to the corresponding patient report of symptoms
a. "I have been vomiting every few hours for 3 days."
b. "The pain in my belly just will not go away."
c. "I have gradually become more constipated."
1. distal SI
2. proximal SI
3. large intestine - Answer-ANS:
,"I have been vomiting every few hours for 3 days." → proximal SI
"The pain in my belly just will not go away." → large intestine
"I have gradually become more constipated." → distal SI
Which patients are at an increased risk for developing a mechanical obstruction? (SATA)
a. Patient with a L5 spinal compression fracture
b. Patient with 10-year history of Crohn's disease
c. Patient with serum K of 2.5 mEq/L
d. Patient with atherosclerosis of mesenteric artery
e. Patient who has undergone multiple abdominal surgeries - Answer-ANS: B, E
Patient with 10-year history of Crohn's disease
Patient who has undergone multiple abdominal surgeries
The nurse is caring for a patient with N, V, and severe pain. For which health care provider order would
the nurse anticipate to prepare the patient?
a. fecal occult blood
b. obstructive series
c. expiatory laprotomy
d. MRI - Answer-ANS: B
obstructive series
,The nurse is caring for a patient with an intestinal obstruction caused by strictures. For which procedure
would the nurse anticipate to prepare the patient?
a. obstructive series
b. surgical ileostomy formation
c. stent placement via endoscopy
d. computerized tomography scan (CT) - Answer-ANS: C
stent placement via endoscopy
The nurse is caring for a patient with intestinal obstruction. Which lab finding would be most
concerning?
a. K of 5.0 mEq/L
b. HBG of 11.0 g/dL
c. Platelet of 150,000 mcL
d. WBC of 18.0 cells/mcL - Answer-ANS: D
WBC of 18.0 cells/mcL
The nurse is providing post-op care for a patient with an intestinal obstruction. The nurse takes the
patient's vital signs and notes a HR of 105, RR 12, SpO2 92%, and T or 102.3°F. Which intervention
should be implemented? (SATA)
a. Provide stoma care
b. Administer antibiotic
c. Assess NG tube
, d. Administer antipyretic
e. Assess abdominal incision
f. Ask patient to turn, cough, and breathe deeply - Answer-ANS: A, B, D, E
Provide stoma care
Administer antibiotic
Administer antipyretic
Assess abdominal incision
The nurse is caring for a patient with intestinal obstruction. The patient has an NGT in place and is
receiving IV fluid therapy. The nurse understands that which assessment findings indicate the treatment
is effective? (SATA)
a. normoactive bowel sounds
b. decrease in N and V
c. serum K of 3.8 mEq/L
d. FBG of 91 mg/dL
e. WBC of 14.0 cells/mcL - Answer-ANS: A, B, C
normoactive bowel sounds
decrease in N and V
serum K of 3.8 mEq/L
A patient with an intestinal obstruction recently had surgery to create an ileostomy. In the immediate
post-op period, the nurse who is caring for the patient anticipates assessing for which frequent
complication of this surgery?
