RN TARGETED MEDICAL SURGICAL
GASTROINTESTINAL EXAM 2024
A nurse is assessing a client who has peritonitis. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
- Bloody diarrhea
- Board-like abdomen
- Periumbilical cyanosis
- Increased bowel sounds - (answers)Board-like abdomen
Rationale: A board-like , distended abdomen, accompanied by extreme pain and
tenderness, is an expected finding for a client who has peritonitis.
RATIONALES:
Bloody diarrhea
- Bloody diarrhea is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal cancer.
Periumbilical cyanosis
- Periumbilical cyanosis is an expected finding for a client who has pancreatitis.
Increased bowel sounds
- Diminished bowel sounds is an expected finding for a client who has peritonitis.
,A nurse is assessing a client who has acute hepatitis B. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
- Joint pain
- Obstipation
- Abdominal distention
- Periumbilical discoloration - (answers)Joint pain
Rationale: Joint pain is an expected finding in a client who has acute hepatitis B.
RATIONALES:
Obstipation
- Obstipation, or failure to pass stools, is an expected finding in a client who has a
complete bowel obstruction.
Abdominal distention
- Abdominal distention is an expected finding in a client who has a small bowel
obstruction.
,Periumbilical discoloration
- Periumbilical discoloration is an expected finding in a client who has
intraperitoneal bleeding.
A nurse is reviewing laboratory values of a client who has colorectal cancer.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
- Negative fecal occult blood test
- Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
- Hematocrit 43%
- Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL - (answers)Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL
Rationale: A hemoglobin level of 9.1 g/dL is below the expected reference range.
Decreased hemoglobin is an expected finding in a client who has colorectal cancer
due to occult intestinal bleeding.
RATIONALES:
Negative fecal occult blood test
, - A positive fecal occult blood test is an expected finding for a client who has
colorectal cancer because colorectal cancer causes bleeding in the gastrointestinal
tract.
Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
- An elevated CEA level is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal
cancer.
Hematocrit 43%
- A hematocrit level of 43% is within the expected reference range. The nurse
should expect a decreased hematocrit level for a client who has colorectal cancer
due to occult intestinal bleeding.
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has cirrhosis and ascites.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
- Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
- Check mental status once daily
- Provide a daily intake of 4 g of sodium for the client.
- Assess the client's breath sounds every 12 hr. - (answers)Measure the client's
abdominal girth daily
Rationale: The nurse should measure the client's abdominal girth and weigh the
client daily to monitor the amount of fluid accumulation in the abdomen and the
effectiveness of treatment measures.
GASTROINTESTINAL EXAM 2024
A nurse is assessing a client who has peritonitis. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
- Bloody diarrhea
- Board-like abdomen
- Periumbilical cyanosis
- Increased bowel sounds - (answers)Board-like abdomen
Rationale: A board-like , distended abdomen, accompanied by extreme pain and
tenderness, is an expected finding for a client who has peritonitis.
RATIONALES:
Bloody diarrhea
- Bloody diarrhea is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal cancer.
Periumbilical cyanosis
- Periumbilical cyanosis is an expected finding for a client who has pancreatitis.
Increased bowel sounds
- Diminished bowel sounds is an expected finding for a client who has peritonitis.
,A nurse is assessing a client who has acute hepatitis B. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
- Joint pain
- Obstipation
- Abdominal distention
- Periumbilical discoloration - (answers)Joint pain
Rationale: Joint pain is an expected finding in a client who has acute hepatitis B.
RATIONALES:
Obstipation
- Obstipation, or failure to pass stools, is an expected finding in a client who has a
complete bowel obstruction.
Abdominal distention
- Abdominal distention is an expected finding in a client who has a small bowel
obstruction.
,Periumbilical discoloration
- Periumbilical discoloration is an expected finding in a client who has
intraperitoneal bleeding.
A nurse is reviewing laboratory values of a client who has colorectal cancer.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
- Negative fecal occult blood test
- Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
- Hematocrit 43%
- Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL - (answers)Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL
Rationale: A hemoglobin level of 9.1 g/dL is below the expected reference range.
Decreased hemoglobin is an expected finding in a client who has colorectal cancer
due to occult intestinal bleeding.
RATIONALES:
Negative fecal occult blood test
, - A positive fecal occult blood test is an expected finding for a client who has
colorectal cancer because colorectal cancer causes bleeding in the gastrointestinal
tract.
Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
- An elevated CEA level is an expected finding for a client who has colorectal
cancer.
Hematocrit 43%
- A hematocrit level of 43% is within the expected reference range. The nurse
should expect a decreased hematocrit level for a client who has colorectal cancer
due to occult intestinal bleeding.
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has cirrhosis and ascites.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
- Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
- Check mental status once daily
- Provide a daily intake of 4 g of sodium for the client.
- Assess the client's breath sounds every 12 hr. - (answers)Measure the client's
abdominal girth daily
Rationale: The nurse should measure the client's abdominal girth and weigh the
client daily to monitor the amount of fluid accumulation in the abdomen and the
effectiveness of treatment measures.
