APPENDICITIS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
The nurse, caring for an older school-age client recovering from an appendectomy, is
preparing to help the family ambulate the child for the first time after surgery. Which
nonpharmacologic nursing strategy would be most appropriate for this client?
A) Placing a warm, moist pack over the site of the incision
B) Holding a splint pillow against the abdomen when moving or coughing
C) Administering appropriate narcotic analgesics
D) Applying an ice pack over the site of the incision - Answer-Answer: B
A splint pillow placed on the abdomen is a nonpharmacologic strategy to decrease
discomfort after an appendectomy. Heat and ice are not used on the incision area, as
they can impair the healing process of the wound. Administering a narcotic is
considered a pharmacologic nursing strategy.
A client with appendicitis is highly agitated and states that she is experiencing a great
deal of pain. Which intervention will help decrease this client's anxiety?
A) Assess pain levels every 2 hours and administer ordered medication.
B) Provide reading material to help distract the client.
C) Distract the client with ambulation.
D) Administer pain medications when the client complains of pain. - Answer-Answer: A
The extreme pain caused by appendicitis is the source of the client's anxiety. Assessing
the client's pain level every 2 hours and administering medications before the pain gets
intense is the best intervention to help decrease the client's anxiety. Waiting until the
client complains of pain makes pain relief more difficult and increases anxiety.
Distraction does not work when clients have severe pain but is often appropriate for
those with chronic pain.
The nurse is caring for a client in the emergency department who is suspected of having
appendicitis. Based on this data, which orders should the nurse anticipate from the
healthcare provider? Select all that apply.
A) A cephalosporin antibiotic
B) A barium enema
C) Regular diet
D) Pain medication
E) Complete white blood cell count - Answer-Answer: A, D, E
Pain medications will be ordered, along with a cephalosporin, as third-generation
cephalosporins are the antibiotics of choice for appendicitis. The provider will also order
a complete white blood cell count, which will be elevated if the client has appendicitis. A
barium enema would not be ordered, as this could cause perforation of the appendix
and bowel. The client should take nothing by mouth, so a regular diet is contraindicated.
The nurse is conducting an assessment on a client who is 36 hours postoperative
following an appendectomy. During the assessment, the nurse is unable to hear any
ANSWERS
The nurse, caring for an older school-age client recovering from an appendectomy, is
preparing to help the family ambulate the child for the first time after surgery. Which
nonpharmacologic nursing strategy would be most appropriate for this client?
A) Placing a warm, moist pack over the site of the incision
B) Holding a splint pillow against the abdomen when moving or coughing
C) Administering appropriate narcotic analgesics
D) Applying an ice pack over the site of the incision - Answer-Answer: B
A splint pillow placed on the abdomen is a nonpharmacologic strategy to decrease
discomfort after an appendectomy. Heat and ice are not used on the incision area, as
they can impair the healing process of the wound. Administering a narcotic is
considered a pharmacologic nursing strategy.
A client with appendicitis is highly agitated and states that she is experiencing a great
deal of pain. Which intervention will help decrease this client's anxiety?
A) Assess pain levels every 2 hours and administer ordered medication.
B) Provide reading material to help distract the client.
C) Distract the client with ambulation.
D) Administer pain medications when the client complains of pain. - Answer-Answer: A
The extreme pain caused by appendicitis is the source of the client's anxiety. Assessing
the client's pain level every 2 hours and administering medications before the pain gets
intense is the best intervention to help decrease the client's anxiety. Waiting until the
client complains of pain makes pain relief more difficult and increases anxiety.
Distraction does not work when clients have severe pain but is often appropriate for
those with chronic pain.
The nurse is caring for a client in the emergency department who is suspected of having
appendicitis. Based on this data, which orders should the nurse anticipate from the
healthcare provider? Select all that apply.
A) A cephalosporin antibiotic
B) A barium enema
C) Regular diet
D) Pain medication
E) Complete white blood cell count - Answer-Answer: A, D, E
Pain medications will be ordered, along with a cephalosporin, as third-generation
cephalosporins are the antibiotics of choice for appendicitis. The provider will also order
a complete white blood cell count, which will be elevated if the client has appendicitis. A
barium enema would not be ordered, as this could cause perforation of the appendix
and bowel. The client should take nothing by mouth, so a regular diet is contraindicated.
The nurse is conducting an assessment on a client who is 36 hours postoperative
following an appendectomy. During the assessment, the nurse is unable to hear any
