ATI Pharmacology Made Easy 5.0 The Gastrointestinal
System Test, Module 41, Module 42
Written Questions (37 Questions)
Written Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for alosetron. The nurse should
recognize that alosetron therapy is effective when the client reports which of the
following?
CORRECT ANSWER: Decreased episodes of diarrhea and abdominal pain associated
with irritable bowel syndrome.
RATIONALE: Alosetron is indicated for severe diarrhea-predominant IBS.
Effectiveness is measured by reduction in diarrhea and pain.
Written Question 2
A patient is concerned about developing nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy
treatment. Which medication should the nurse anticipate being prescribed to help
prevent these adverse effects?
CORRECT ANSWER: Ondansetron (Zofran)
RATIONALE: Ondansetron is a first-line antiemetic for chemotherapy-induced
nausea and vomiting.
Written Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who was assigned male at birth, who asks the nurse
about taking alosetron for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) lasting 3
months. Which information should the nurse provide?
,CORRECT ANSWER: Alosetron is only approved for women with severe IBS-D; it is
not recommended for use in males.
RATIONALE: Alosetron has a boxed warning and is restricted to women with severe
IBS-D who have failed other treatments. It is not indicated for men.
Written Question 4
A patient with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) asks why the stomach is secreting too much
acid. Which information should the nurse include in response?
CORRECT ANSWER: The most common cause is Helicobacter pylori infection, which
disrupts the mucosal barrier and increases acid production.
RATIONALE: H. pylori infection is the primary cause of PUD; it stimulates acid
secretion and damages the protective mucosa.
Written Question 5
A patient is being treated with psyllium (Metamucil). Which finding should indicate
the medication has been effective?
CORRECT ANSWER: Soft, formed stools.
RATIONALE: Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative that helps normalize bowel
movements by producing soft, formed stools.
Written Question 6
A nurse is administering sulfasalazine to a client. Which data should the nurse collect
to help identify an adverse drug reaction?
CORRECT ANSWER: Monitor for skin rash, fever, sore throat (signs of
hypersensitivity), and CBC (for bone marrow suppression).
RATIONALE: Sulfasalazine can cause hypersensitivity reactions and hematologic
disorders; monitoring these parameters is essential.
,Written Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking phenytoin for a seizure disorder and has a
new prescription for sucralfate to treat a duodenal ulcer. The nurse should instruct
the client to take the medications at least 2 hours apart for which of the following
reasons?
CORRECT ANSWER: Sucralfate can bind to phenytoin and reduce its absorption,
decreasing anticonvulsant efficacy.
RATIONALE: Sucralfate forms a barrier that can adsorb other medications;
separation by 2 hours prevents interaction.
Written Question 8
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has kidney disease and a new
prescription for cimetidine. The nurse should instruct the client to report which of the
following manifestations?
CORRECT ANSWER: Confusion, dizziness, or hallucinations (CNS effects) and any
changes in renal function.
RATIONALE: Cimetidine can accumulate in renal impairment and cause CNS toxicity,
especially in elderly patients.
Written Question 9
The nurse is assessing a patient receiving ondansetron (Zofran). Which assessment
finding should the nurse consider an adverse effect of this medication?
CORRECT ANSWER: Headache
RATIONALE: Headache is a common adverse effect of ondansetron.
Written Question 10
A nurse is caring for a client who experiences motion sickness. Select the 2
instructions the nurse should provide to the client about their newly prescribed
medication.
, CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Take the medication 1 hour before travel. 2. Avoid alcohol
and CNS depressants.
RATIONALE: Motion sickness medications are most effective when taken
prophylactically; alcohol can increase sedation.
Written Question 11
A patient is prescribed an H2-receptor antagonist. Which information should the
nurse include when teaching about this medication?
CORRECT ANSWER: Take the drug at bedtime.
RATIONALE: H2 blockers like famotidine are often taken at bedtime to reduce
nocturnal acid secretion.
Written Question 12
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has a new prescription for
famotidine. The nurse should recognize that which of the following medications
interacts with famotidine?
CORRECT ANSWER: Ketoconazole (and other azole antifungals) – because
famotidine reduces gastric acidity, impairing absorption of ketoconazole.
RATIONALE: Reduced acid can decrease the absorption of drugs that require an
acidic environment.
Written Question 13
A patient with gastrointestinal burning is prescribed an antibiotic. For which health
problem should the nurse assess this patient?
CORRECT ANSWER: Peptic ulcer disease caused by Helicobacter pylori.
RATIONALE: Antibiotics are used to eradicate H. pylori in PUD.
System Test, Module 41, Module 42
Written Questions (37 Questions)
Written Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for alosetron. The nurse should
recognize that alosetron therapy is effective when the client reports which of the
following?
CORRECT ANSWER: Decreased episodes of diarrhea and abdominal pain associated
with irritable bowel syndrome.
RATIONALE: Alosetron is indicated for severe diarrhea-predominant IBS.
Effectiveness is measured by reduction in diarrhea and pain.
Written Question 2
A patient is concerned about developing nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy
treatment. Which medication should the nurse anticipate being prescribed to help
prevent these adverse effects?
CORRECT ANSWER: Ondansetron (Zofran)
RATIONALE: Ondansetron is a first-line antiemetic for chemotherapy-induced
nausea and vomiting.
Written Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who was assigned male at birth, who asks the nurse
about taking alosetron for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) lasting 3
months. Which information should the nurse provide?
,CORRECT ANSWER: Alosetron is only approved for women with severe IBS-D; it is
not recommended for use in males.
RATIONALE: Alosetron has a boxed warning and is restricted to women with severe
IBS-D who have failed other treatments. It is not indicated for men.
Written Question 4
A patient with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) asks why the stomach is secreting too much
acid. Which information should the nurse include in response?
CORRECT ANSWER: The most common cause is Helicobacter pylori infection, which
disrupts the mucosal barrier and increases acid production.
RATIONALE: H. pylori infection is the primary cause of PUD; it stimulates acid
secretion and damages the protective mucosa.
Written Question 5
A patient is being treated with psyllium (Metamucil). Which finding should indicate
the medication has been effective?
CORRECT ANSWER: Soft, formed stools.
RATIONALE: Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative that helps normalize bowel
movements by producing soft, formed stools.
Written Question 6
A nurse is administering sulfasalazine to a client. Which data should the nurse collect
to help identify an adverse drug reaction?
CORRECT ANSWER: Monitor for skin rash, fever, sore throat (signs of
hypersensitivity), and CBC (for bone marrow suppression).
RATIONALE: Sulfasalazine can cause hypersensitivity reactions and hematologic
disorders; monitoring these parameters is essential.
,Written Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking phenytoin for a seizure disorder and has a
new prescription for sucralfate to treat a duodenal ulcer. The nurse should instruct
the client to take the medications at least 2 hours apart for which of the following
reasons?
CORRECT ANSWER: Sucralfate can bind to phenytoin and reduce its absorption,
decreasing anticonvulsant efficacy.
RATIONALE: Sucralfate forms a barrier that can adsorb other medications;
separation by 2 hours prevents interaction.
Written Question 8
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has kidney disease and a new
prescription for cimetidine. The nurse should instruct the client to report which of the
following manifestations?
CORRECT ANSWER: Confusion, dizziness, or hallucinations (CNS effects) and any
changes in renal function.
RATIONALE: Cimetidine can accumulate in renal impairment and cause CNS toxicity,
especially in elderly patients.
Written Question 9
The nurse is assessing a patient receiving ondansetron (Zofran). Which assessment
finding should the nurse consider an adverse effect of this medication?
CORRECT ANSWER: Headache
RATIONALE: Headache is a common adverse effect of ondansetron.
Written Question 10
A nurse is caring for a client who experiences motion sickness. Select the 2
instructions the nurse should provide to the client about their newly prescribed
medication.
, CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Take the medication 1 hour before travel. 2. Avoid alcohol
and CNS depressants.
RATIONALE: Motion sickness medications are most effective when taken
prophylactically; alcohol can increase sedation.
Written Question 11
A patient is prescribed an H2-receptor antagonist. Which information should the
nurse include when teaching about this medication?
CORRECT ANSWER: Take the drug at bedtime.
RATIONALE: H2 blockers like famotidine are often taken at bedtime to reduce
nocturnal acid secretion.
Written Question 12
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has a new prescription for
famotidine. The nurse should recognize that which of the following medications
interacts with famotidine?
CORRECT ANSWER: Ketoconazole (and other azole antifungals) – because
famotidine reduces gastric acidity, impairing absorption of ketoconazole.
RATIONALE: Reduced acid can decrease the absorption of drugs that require an
acidic environment.
Written Question 13
A patient with gastrointestinal burning is prescribed an antibiotic. For which health
problem should the nurse assess this patient?
CORRECT ANSWER: Peptic ulcer disease caused by Helicobacter pylori.
RATIONALE: Antibiotics are used to eradicate H. pylori in PUD.
