Chamberlain NR 511 Midterm Exam | Verified Exam Questions and
Answers | Latest Updated Study Material 2026
Question:
What are common causes of N/V associated with gastritis?
Answer:
Alcohol, NSAIDs, ASA, ABX, and illicit substances
Question:
What is the most common cause of nausea and vomiting?
Answer:
Acute
Gastroenteritis (AGE)
Question:
What are some manifestations of AGE?
Answer:
Nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain. May also include fatigue, malaise, anorexia, tenesmus and
borborygmus.
Question:
How is the severity of AGE gauged?
Answer:
Dehydration secondary to
profuse watery diarrhea, fever greater than 101ºF (38.3ºC), vomiting, or dysentery.
Question:
What are important parts of a patient's history when AGE is suspected?
Answer:
Travel, dining locations, ABX history..
Question:
What happens to the pH of the stomach when antacids are taken and how does this affect
bacteria?
,Answer:
High pH can make it easier for bacteria to survive and
cause and infection.
Question:
How does motility of the GI tract affect bacteria colonization?
Answer:
Small bowel stasis as a result of obstruction, diverticulitis, or blind loop syndrome frequently
develop an overgrowth of bacteria within the stagnant segment.
Question:
Which immunoglobulin may protect the GI tract against invading organisms?
Answer:
IgA...may also help protect against a future attack by the same pathogen.
Question:
Onset of N/V begin within 6 hours after exposure. Is this bacterial or viral?
Answer:
Bacterial: time frame suggests food poisoning resulting from the ingestion of a
preformed toxin such as that of Bacillus cereus.
Question:
What two indications are highly suggestive of viral AGE?
Answer:
Incubation periods greater than 14 hours and the initial symptom of vomiting.
Question:
If a patient presents with AGE and reports bloody stools, what can be understood about the
reason for blood in the stool/
Answer:
Mucosal damage and inflammatory
process secondary to invasive pathogens.
Question:
What do frothy stools and flatus suggest?
,Answer:
Malabsorption
problem.
Question:
Patients with prolonged AGE illness who are malnourished may present with edema. What is the
reason?
Answer:
Hypoalbuminemia
Question:
T or F: Chronic diarrhea usually has a noninfectious etiology.
Answer:
True
Question:
T or F: Acute diarrhea usually is caused by infectious agents or toxins
Answer:
True
Question:
What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in adults?
Answer:
Norovirus
Question:
What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in pediatrics?
Answer:
Rotavirus. This has been greatly reduced since the introduction of the rotavirus
vaccine.
Question:
T or F: Stool studies are indicated in the absence of bloody diarrhea or systemic disease
Answer:
False
, Question:
T or F: A CBC will help distinguish between viral and bacterial AGE
Answer:
False
Question:
When are stool studies warranted?
Answer:
Severe or prolonged diarrhea,
a fever > 38.5ºC, bloody stools or stools that test positive for leukocytes or occult blood.
Question:
What are common pathogens involved in Traveler's Diarrhea?
Answer:
Shigella, Campylobacter, and E. coli.
Question:
What should the clinician do if the patient develops diarrhea after initiation of completion of
antibiotic therapy?
Answer:
Test for C. diff.
Question:
What are some DDx of AGE, particularly in patients with persistent or chronic diarrhea and
severe abdominal pain?
Answer:
IBS, IBD, ischemic bowel disease,
partial bowel obstruction, small bowel diverticulosis.
Question:
What are some red flag symptoms that may indicate the need for hospitalization?
Answer:
Hypovolemia, dehydration, abnormal electrolytes, decreased renal function,
bloody stool/rectal bleeding, weight loss, severe abdominal pain, prolonged symptoms greater
than 1 week, pregnancy, advanced age, history of hospitalization or antibiotic use in the last 3-6
Answers | Latest Updated Study Material 2026
Question:
What are common causes of N/V associated with gastritis?
Answer:
Alcohol, NSAIDs, ASA, ABX, and illicit substances
Question:
What is the most common cause of nausea and vomiting?
Answer:
Acute
Gastroenteritis (AGE)
Question:
What are some manifestations of AGE?
Answer:
Nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain. May also include fatigue, malaise, anorexia, tenesmus and
borborygmus.
Question:
How is the severity of AGE gauged?
Answer:
Dehydration secondary to
profuse watery diarrhea, fever greater than 101ºF (38.3ºC), vomiting, or dysentery.
Question:
What are important parts of a patient's history when AGE is suspected?
Answer:
Travel, dining locations, ABX history..
Question:
What happens to the pH of the stomach when antacids are taken and how does this affect
bacteria?
,Answer:
High pH can make it easier for bacteria to survive and
cause and infection.
Question:
How does motility of the GI tract affect bacteria colonization?
Answer:
Small bowel stasis as a result of obstruction, diverticulitis, or blind loop syndrome frequently
develop an overgrowth of bacteria within the stagnant segment.
Question:
Which immunoglobulin may protect the GI tract against invading organisms?
Answer:
IgA...may also help protect against a future attack by the same pathogen.
Question:
Onset of N/V begin within 6 hours after exposure. Is this bacterial or viral?
Answer:
Bacterial: time frame suggests food poisoning resulting from the ingestion of a
preformed toxin such as that of Bacillus cereus.
Question:
What two indications are highly suggestive of viral AGE?
Answer:
Incubation periods greater than 14 hours and the initial symptom of vomiting.
Question:
If a patient presents with AGE and reports bloody stools, what can be understood about the
reason for blood in the stool/
Answer:
Mucosal damage and inflammatory
process secondary to invasive pathogens.
Question:
What do frothy stools and flatus suggest?
,Answer:
Malabsorption
problem.
Question:
Patients with prolonged AGE illness who are malnourished may present with edema. What is the
reason?
Answer:
Hypoalbuminemia
Question:
T or F: Chronic diarrhea usually has a noninfectious etiology.
Answer:
True
Question:
T or F: Acute diarrhea usually is caused by infectious agents or toxins
Answer:
True
Question:
What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in adults?
Answer:
Norovirus
Question:
What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in pediatrics?
Answer:
Rotavirus. This has been greatly reduced since the introduction of the rotavirus
vaccine.
Question:
T or F: Stool studies are indicated in the absence of bloody diarrhea or systemic disease
Answer:
False
, Question:
T or F: A CBC will help distinguish between viral and bacterial AGE
Answer:
False
Question:
When are stool studies warranted?
Answer:
Severe or prolonged diarrhea,
a fever > 38.5ºC, bloody stools or stools that test positive for leukocytes or occult blood.
Question:
What are common pathogens involved in Traveler's Diarrhea?
Answer:
Shigella, Campylobacter, and E. coli.
Question:
What should the clinician do if the patient develops diarrhea after initiation of completion of
antibiotic therapy?
Answer:
Test for C. diff.
Question:
What are some DDx of AGE, particularly in patients with persistent or chronic diarrhea and
severe abdominal pain?
Answer:
IBS, IBD, ischemic bowel disease,
partial bowel obstruction, small bowel diverticulosis.
Question:
What are some red flag symptoms that may indicate the need for hospitalization?
Answer:
Hypovolemia, dehydration, abnormal electrolytes, decreased renal function,
bloody stool/rectal bleeding, weight loss, severe abdominal pain, prolonged symptoms greater
than 1 week, pregnancy, advanced age, history of hospitalization or antibiotic use in the last 3-6
