NCLEX Mastery 2024/2026: Free Ulcerative
Colitis Practice Questions & Case Study
Guide
Description:
Struggling with gastrointestinal disorders on the NCLEX? Master one of the most tested
conditions with our free, in-depth Ulcerative Colitis Case Study—designed for nursing
students, RN candidates, and USMLE learners. This targeted review includes 53 challenging
practice questions that mirror the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) format, complete with
detailed rationales and evidence-based explanations. You’ll cover key areas like:
Pharmacology: Sulfasalazine, corticosteroids, biologics, and antispasmodics
Clinical Judgment: Prioritization, complication recognition, and patient education
NCLEX-Style Items: Multiple response, matrix grid, case study clusters, and more
Real-World Scenarios: From ER presentation to discharge planning and telehealth
Whether you’re searching for "NCLEX ulcerative colitis questions," "free nursing case
studies," or "GI disorder practice test," this resource aligns with the latest 2024/2026 U.S.
nursing standards and integrates clinical pearls you won’t find in standard textbooks.
Don’t just memorize—understand. Download your free NCLEX UC guide now and study smarter,
not harder!
,Free NCLEX Practice Questions 2024/2026: Ulcerative Colitis Case
Study (Answers & Explanations)
Section 1: Clinical Presentation Analysis
1. A 21-year-old female presents to the Emergency Department reporting a two-month history of
progressive symptoms. Which set of clinical findings is most characteristic of an inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD) flare, as opposed to an infectious process?
a) Fever of 102°F, acute onset vomiting, and generalized myalgia.
b) Chronic fatigue, intermittent lower abdominal cramping, and recurrent bloody diarrhea with
mucus.
c) Severe, constant right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and clay-colored stools.
d) Post-prandial epigastric burning, regurgitation, and heartburn.
Answer: B
Explanation: The presentation of chronic fatigue, intermittent cramping, and recurrent bloody
diarrhea with mucus over an extended period (two months) is classic for a flare of inflammatory
bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis. Infectious processes typically present with a more acute
onset and may include high fever, while options C and D describe clinical pictures consistent
with hepatobiliary and gastroesophageal disorders, respectively.
Section 2: Pathophysiology & Diagnosis
2. Based on the primary clinical presentation, the client is most likely experiencing which
condition?
Answer: Ulcerative Colitis
Explanation: The hallmark finding of chronic, recurrent bloody diarrhea, accompanied by lower
abdominal cramping and tenesmus (the feeling of incomplete defecation), strongly points to
ulcerative colitis. This is a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous
mucosal inflammation of the colon and rectum.
, 3. Which assessment findings specifically support the nursing diagnosis of Impaired
Elimination? Select all that apply.
a) Bloody diarrhea occurring 6-7 times daily.
b) ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) of 66 mm/hr.
c) Serum potassium level of 3.3 mEq/L.
d) Report of abdominal pain increasing today.
e) CT scan finding of bowel wall thickening.
Answer: A, C, E
Explanation:
A: Frequent bloody diarrhea is a direct manifestation of altered bowel elimination.
C: Hypokalemia (low potassium) is a common electrolyte imbalance resulting from chronic
diarrhea, further indicating impaired elimination.
E: Radiographic evidence of bowel wall thickening is an objective sign of the pathological
process causing the elimination disturbance. While B indicates inflammation and D indicates
pain, they are not direct evidence of the elimination pattern itself.
Section 3: Therapeutic Management & Education
4. For a client with an acute flare of ulcerative colitis, the nurse is planning care to achieve the
outcome of reduced pain/cramping and diarrheal relief. Click to indicate whether each
intervention is Indicated or Contraindicated.
Intervention Indicated / Contraindicat
Administering an antispasmodic medication (e.g., dicyclomine). Indicated
Administering a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain. Contraindicated
Teaching about a temporary low-residue, low-fiber diet. Indicated
Instructing the client to strain forcefully with every urge to defecate. Contraindicated
Colitis Practice Questions & Case Study
Guide
Description:
Struggling with gastrointestinal disorders on the NCLEX? Master one of the most tested
conditions with our free, in-depth Ulcerative Colitis Case Study—designed for nursing
students, RN candidates, and USMLE learners. This targeted review includes 53 challenging
practice questions that mirror the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) format, complete with
detailed rationales and evidence-based explanations. You’ll cover key areas like:
Pharmacology: Sulfasalazine, corticosteroids, biologics, and antispasmodics
Clinical Judgment: Prioritization, complication recognition, and patient education
NCLEX-Style Items: Multiple response, matrix grid, case study clusters, and more
Real-World Scenarios: From ER presentation to discharge planning and telehealth
Whether you’re searching for "NCLEX ulcerative colitis questions," "free nursing case
studies," or "GI disorder practice test," this resource aligns with the latest 2024/2026 U.S.
nursing standards and integrates clinical pearls you won’t find in standard textbooks.
Don’t just memorize—understand. Download your free NCLEX UC guide now and study smarter,
not harder!
,Free NCLEX Practice Questions 2024/2026: Ulcerative Colitis Case
Study (Answers & Explanations)
Section 1: Clinical Presentation Analysis
1. A 21-year-old female presents to the Emergency Department reporting a two-month history of
progressive symptoms. Which set of clinical findings is most characteristic of an inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD) flare, as opposed to an infectious process?
a) Fever of 102°F, acute onset vomiting, and generalized myalgia.
b) Chronic fatigue, intermittent lower abdominal cramping, and recurrent bloody diarrhea with
mucus.
c) Severe, constant right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and clay-colored stools.
d) Post-prandial epigastric burning, regurgitation, and heartburn.
Answer: B
Explanation: The presentation of chronic fatigue, intermittent cramping, and recurrent bloody
diarrhea with mucus over an extended period (two months) is classic for a flare of inflammatory
bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis. Infectious processes typically present with a more acute
onset and may include high fever, while options C and D describe clinical pictures consistent
with hepatobiliary and gastroesophageal disorders, respectively.
Section 2: Pathophysiology & Diagnosis
2. Based on the primary clinical presentation, the client is most likely experiencing which
condition?
Answer: Ulcerative Colitis
Explanation: The hallmark finding of chronic, recurrent bloody diarrhea, accompanied by lower
abdominal cramping and tenesmus (the feeling of incomplete defecation), strongly points to
ulcerative colitis. This is a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous
mucosal inflammation of the colon and rectum.
, 3. Which assessment findings specifically support the nursing diagnosis of Impaired
Elimination? Select all that apply.
a) Bloody diarrhea occurring 6-7 times daily.
b) ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) of 66 mm/hr.
c) Serum potassium level of 3.3 mEq/L.
d) Report of abdominal pain increasing today.
e) CT scan finding of bowel wall thickening.
Answer: A, C, E
Explanation:
A: Frequent bloody diarrhea is a direct manifestation of altered bowel elimination.
C: Hypokalemia (low potassium) is a common electrolyte imbalance resulting from chronic
diarrhea, further indicating impaired elimination.
E: Radiographic evidence of bowel wall thickening is an objective sign of the pathological
process causing the elimination disturbance. While B indicates inflammation and D indicates
pain, they are not direct evidence of the elimination pattern itself.
Section 3: Therapeutic Management & Education
4. For a client with an acute flare of ulcerative colitis, the nurse is planning care to achieve the
outcome of reduced pain/cramping and diarrheal relief. Click to indicate whether each
intervention is Indicated or Contraindicated.
Intervention Indicated / Contraindicat
Administering an antispasmodic medication (e.g., dicyclomine). Indicated
Administering a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain. Contraindicated
Teaching about a temporary low-residue, low-fiber diet. Indicated
Instructing the client to strain forcefully with every urge to defecate. Contraindicated
