NR 511 Final Exam Study Guide UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
vascular emergencies - CORRECT ANSWER - mesenteric ischemia, abdominal aortic
aneurysm, or myocardial infarction
Visceral pain - CORRECT ANSWER - caused by distention or spasm of a hollow viscus
and is usually generalized and dull
parietal pain - CORRECT ANSWER - described as sharp and well localized, is caused by
irritation of the peritoneum
colicky - CORRECT ANSWER - it comes and goes, may result from gallstones or renal
stones
Burning pain - CORRECT ANSWER - caused by irritation of the gastric mucosa by
gastric contents, is associated with peptic ulcers and esophagitis
ribbon-like stools - CORRECT ANSWER - often indicate a motility disorder but can also
be caused by an organic narrowing of the distal or sigmoid colon
progressive decrease in the diameter of the stools - CORRECT ANSWER - this suggests
an organic lesion
steatorrhea - CORRECT ANSWER - fatty stools
greenish-yellow stools - CORRECT ANSWER - associated with the constipation, the
clinician should look for a small bowel or pancreatic lesion
,Diarrhea - CORRECT ANSWER - generally defined as an increase in the frequency,
volume, or fluid content of bowel movements over what is normal for the individual
Fiber recommended amount for women - CORRECT ANSWER - 25 g daily to achieve
optimal bowel health
Fiber recommended amount for men - CORRECT ANSWER - 35 g daily to achieve
optimal bowel health
Secondary constipation - CORRECT ANSWER - often is a result of medications such as
opioids, analgesics, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, antiparkinsonian drugs, cough
medicine, and aluminum antacids
dietary fiber - CORRECT ANSWER - slowly increase the amount to 25 to 35 g per day,
with at least 12 to 15 g at breakfast
hydration - CORRECT ANSWER - patients should be encouraged to drink at least 64
ounces of fluids daily
long-term use agents for constipation - CORRECT ANSWER - bulking agents
Barium swallow - CORRECT ANSWER - Work-up of heart burn
EGD - CORRECT ANSWER - Work-up of heart burn
Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER - Assessment techniques for abdominal assessment
appendicitis - CORRECT ANSWER - Assessment, diagnosis and management of
,gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - inflammation of the stomach and intestine that
manifests as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Chronic causes of gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - food allergies and intolerance,
stress, and lactase deficiency
Mode of transmission for acute infectious gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Fecal-
oral route from contaminated food or water
Bacterial pathogens in acute gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Account for 30% to
80% of cases
Normal flora of the GI tract - CORRECT ANSWER - Help prevent overgrowth of
pathogens
Symptoms of acute gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
fever, and abdominal pain and cramping; fatigue, malaise, anorexia, tenesmus, and borborygmus
Voluminous stools - CORRECT ANSWER - Suggestive of a source in the small bowel or
proximal colon
Small stools accompanied by a sense of urgency - CORRECT ANSWER - Suggest a
source in the left colon or rectum
Bloody stools - CORRECT ANSWER - Suggest mucosal damage and an inflammatory
process secondary to invasive pathogens
Acute diarrhea cause - CORRECT ANSWER - Usually caused by infectious agents or
toxins
Chronic diarrhea cause - CORRECT ANSWER - Usually has a noninfectious etiology
, Stool examination for ova and parasites - CORRECT ANSWER - Cases of persistent
diarrhea, especially if the symptoms began after travel to Russia, Nepal, the Rocky Mountains, or
other mountainous regions, or after exposure to infants in a day-care center
Parasites consideration - CORRECT ANSWER - Men who have sex with men or any
patient with HIV/AIDS who presents with diarrhea, as well as in a patient with diarrhea who
lives in a community where a waterborne outbreak has occurred
Differential diagnosis of gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Irritable bowel
syndrome, IBD, ischemic bowel disease (especially in patients with peripheral vascular disease),
partial bowel obstruction, and pelvic abscess
Treatment for gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Fluid and electrolyte management
Diet for gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Includes calories that come from boiled
starches and cereals (potatoes, pasta, rice, wheat, and oats), which will facilitate enterocyte
renewal, with the addition of salt for the duration of illness
Febrile dysentery treatment consideration - CORRECT ANSWER - Patients with febrile
dysentery should not receive antimotility medications because slowing the intraluminal time may
prolong the duration of the disease
Antibiotic of choice for traveler's diarrhea - CORRECT ANSWER - Azithromycin
(Zithromax) 1,000 mg orally once a day for 1 to 3 days
Safe foods - CORRECT ANSWER - Acidic foods such as unpeeled citrus fruits; dry foods
such as breads and cereals; steamed foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, and cooked
vegetables; foods containing high amounts of sugar such as syrups, jellies, and jams; and bottled
carbonated drinks such as soda and beer
Ischemic colitis symptom: Sudden abdominal pain - CORRECT ANSWER - Often
crampy and localized to the left lower quadrant (LLQ)
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
vascular emergencies - CORRECT ANSWER - mesenteric ischemia, abdominal aortic
aneurysm, or myocardial infarction
Visceral pain - CORRECT ANSWER - caused by distention or spasm of a hollow viscus
and is usually generalized and dull
parietal pain - CORRECT ANSWER - described as sharp and well localized, is caused by
irritation of the peritoneum
colicky - CORRECT ANSWER - it comes and goes, may result from gallstones or renal
stones
Burning pain - CORRECT ANSWER - caused by irritation of the gastric mucosa by
gastric contents, is associated with peptic ulcers and esophagitis
ribbon-like stools - CORRECT ANSWER - often indicate a motility disorder but can also
be caused by an organic narrowing of the distal or sigmoid colon
progressive decrease in the diameter of the stools - CORRECT ANSWER - this suggests
an organic lesion
steatorrhea - CORRECT ANSWER - fatty stools
greenish-yellow stools - CORRECT ANSWER - associated with the constipation, the
clinician should look for a small bowel or pancreatic lesion
,Diarrhea - CORRECT ANSWER - generally defined as an increase in the frequency,
volume, or fluid content of bowel movements over what is normal for the individual
Fiber recommended amount for women - CORRECT ANSWER - 25 g daily to achieve
optimal bowel health
Fiber recommended amount for men - CORRECT ANSWER - 35 g daily to achieve
optimal bowel health
Secondary constipation - CORRECT ANSWER - often is a result of medications such as
opioids, analgesics, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, antiparkinsonian drugs, cough
medicine, and aluminum antacids
dietary fiber - CORRECT ANSWER - slowly increase the amount to 25 to 35 g per day,
with at least 12 to 15 g at breakfast
hydration - CORRECT ANSWER - patients should be encouraged to drink at least 64
ounces of fluids daily
long-term use agents for constipation - CORRECT ANSWER - bulking agents
Barium swallow - CORRECT ANSWER - Work-up of heart burn
EGD - CORRECT ANSWER - Work-up of heart burn
Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER - Assessment techniques for abdominal assessment
appendicitis - CORRECT ANSWER - Assessment, diagnosis and management of
,gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - inflammation of the stomach and intestine that
manifests as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Chronic causes of gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - food allergies and intolerance,
stress, and lactase deficiency
Mode of transmission for acute infectious gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Fecal-
oral route from contaminated food or water
Bacterial pathogens in acute gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Account for 30% to
80% of cases
Normal flora of the GI tract - CORRECT ANSWER - Help prevent overgrowth of
pathogens
Symptoms of acute gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
fever, and abdominal pain and cramping; fatigue, malaise, anorexia, tenesmus, and borborygmus
Voluminous stools - CORRECT ANSWER - Suggestive of a source in the small bowel or
proximal colon
Small stools accompanied by a sense of urgency - CORRECT ANSWER - Suggest a
source in the left colon or rectum
Bloody stools - CORRECT ANSWER - Suggest mucosal damage and an inflammatory
process secondary to invasive pathogens
Acute diarrhea cause - CORRECT ANSWER - Usually caused by infectious agents or
toxins
Chronic diarrhea cause - CORRECT ANSWER - Usually has a noninfectious etiology
, Stool examination for ova and parasites - CORRECT ANSWER - Cases of persistent
diarrhea, especially if the symptoms began after travel to Russia, Nepal, the Rocky Mountains, or
other mountainous regions, or after exposure to infants in a day-care center
Parasites consideration - CORRECT ANSWER - Men who have sex with men or any
patient with HIV/AIDS who presents with diarrhea, as well as in a patient with diarrhea who
lives in a community where a waterborne outbreak has occurred
Differential diagnosis of gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Irritable bowel
syndrome, IBD, ischemic bowel disease (especially in patients with peripheral vascular disease),
partial bowel obstruction, and pelvic abscess
Treatment for gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Fluid and electrolyte management
Diet for gastroenteritis - CORRECT ANSWER - Includes calories that come from boiled
starches and cereals (potatoes, pasta, rice, wheat, and oats), which will facilitate enterocyte
renewal, with the addition of salt for the duration of illness
Febrile dysentery treatment consideration - CORRECT ANSWER - Patients with febrile
dysentery should not receive antimotility medications because slowing the intraluminal time may
prolong the duration of the disease
Antibiotic of choice for traveler's diarrhea - CORRECT ANSWER - Azithromycin
(Zithromax) 1,000 mg orally once a day for 1 to 3 days
Safe foods - CORRECT ANSWER - Acidic foods such as unpeeled citrus fruits; dry foods
such as breads and cereals; steamed foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, and cooked
vegetables; foods containing high amounts of sugar such as syrups, jellies, and jams; and bottled
carbonated drinks such as soda and beer
Ischemic colitis symptom: Sudden abdominal pain - CORRECT ANSWER - Often
crampy and localized to the left lower quadrant (LLQ)
