ATI Pharmacology Made Easy 5.0 – The
Gastrointestinal System Test | Complete Q&A
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a female client who has Crohn's disease. Complete
the following sentence by using the list of options. The priority finding the
nurse should report is yellow sclera because it indicates hepatotoxicity.
A) Yellow sclera
B) Pale conjunctiva
C) Dry mucous membranes
D) Abdominal distension
Answer: A) Yellow sclera
Explanation: Yellow sclera (icterus) indicates hepatotoxicity, a
serious adverse effect of certain medications used to treat Crohn's
disease (e.g., methotrexate, azathioprine). This requires immediate
reporting. Pale conjunctiva indicates anemia. Dry mucous
membranes indicate dehydration. Abdominal distension indicates
obstruction or inflammation.
Question 2
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.
A) Avoid activities that require alertness
B) Increase fluid and fiber intake
C) Take the medication with a high-fat meal
D) Take the medication 30 minutes before travel
E) Double the dose if symptoms persist
Answer: A) Avoid activities that require alertness and D) Take the
medication 30 minutes before travel
Explanation: Antiemetics used for motion sickness (e.g., meclizine,
dimenhydrinate, scopolamine) cause drowsiness, so clients should
avoid activities requiring alertness. They should be taken 30
minutes before travel for maximum effect. Increasing fluid and fiber
is not specific to motion sickness. Taking with a high-fat meal is
incorrect. Doubling the dose is never recommended.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who has inflammatory bowel disease. Click
to highlight the findings that should indicate to the nurse that the client's
newly prescribed medication should be administered with caution.
A) Medical history includes asthma
B) Creatinine 2.1 mg/dL
C) BUN 30 mg/dL
D) Hgb 11 g/dL
E) Hct 36%
,Answer: B) Creatinine 2.1 mg/dL and C) BUN 30 mg/dL
Explanation: Elevated creatinine (normal 0.6-1.2 mg/dL) and BUN
(normal 10-20 mg/dL) indicate renal impairment. Medications used
for IBD (e.g., mesalamine, sulfasalazine) require caution in renal
impairment. Asthma is not a contraindication. Hgb 11 and Hct 36%
are slightly low but not a primary concern for caution.
Question 4
A nurse is planning teaching for a client who has been prescribed
loperamide to treat diarrhea. Which of the following statements should
the nurse plan to include?
A) Avoid driving or activities requiring alertness
B) Take the medication with a high-fiber meal
C) Stop the medication if diarrhea resolves
D) Take the medication on an empty stomach
Answer: A) Avoid driving or activities requiring alertness
Explanation: Loperamide (Imodium) can cause drowsiness and
fatigue, so clients should avoid driving or activities requiring
alertness. It should be taken with fluids, not necessarily a high-fiber
meal. The medication should be tapered or stopped as directed, not
abruptly stopped. It can be taken with or without food.
, Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has peptic ulcer disease. The nurse
should monitor the client's phosphorus levels when administering which
of the following medications?
A) Aluminum hydroxide
B) Omeprazole
C) Sucralfate
D) Misoprostol
Answer: A) Aluminum hydroxide
Explanation: Aluminum hydroxide (an antacid) can cause
hypophosphatemia (low phosphorus levels) with prolonged use.
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. Sucralfate is a mucosal
protectant. Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analog. These do not
significantly affect phosphorus levels.
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for methotrexate.
The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for manifestations of
which of the following conditions?
A) Hepatotoxicity
B) Nephrotoxicity
C) Cardiotoxicity
D) Ototoxicity
Gastrointestinal System Test | Complete Q&A
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a female client who has Crohn's disease. Complete
the following sentence by using the list of options. The priority finding the
nurse should report is yellow sclera because it indicates hepatotoxicity.
A) Yellow sclera
B) Pale conjunctiva
C) Dry mucous membranes
D) Abdominal distension
Answer: A) Yellow sclera
Explanation: Yellow sclera (icterus) indicates hepatotoxicity, a
serious adverse effect of certain medications used to treat Crohn's
disease (e.g., methotrexate, azathioprine). This requires immediate
reporting. Pale conjunctiva indicates anemia. Dry mucous
membranes indicate dehydration. Abdominal distension indicates
obstruction or inflammation.
Question 2
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.
A) Avoid activities that require alertness
B) Increase fluid and fiber intake
C) Take the medication with a high-fat meal
D) Take the medication 30 minutes before travel
E) Double the dose if symptoms persist
Answer: A) Avoid activities that require alertness and D) Take the
medication 30 minutes before travel
Explanation: Antiemetics used for motion sickness (e.g., meclizine,
dimenhydrinate, scopolamine) cause drowsiness, so clients should
avoid activities requiring alertness. They should be taken 30
minutes before travel for maximum effect. Increasing fluid and fiber
is not specific to motion sickness. Taking with a high-fat meal is
incorrect. Doubling the dose is never recommended.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who has inflammatory bowel disease. Click
to highlight the findings that should indicate to the nurse that the client's
newly prescribed medication should be administered with caution.
A) Medical history includes asthma
B) Creatinine 2.1 mg/dL
C) BUN 30 mg/dL
D) Hgb 11 g/dL
E) Hct 36%
,Answer: B) Creatinine 2.1 mg/dL and C) BUN 30 mg/dL
Explanation: Elevated creatinine (normal 0.6-1.2 mg/dL) and BUN
(normal 10-20 mg/dL) indicate renal impairment. Medications used
for IBD (e.g., mesalamine, sulfasalazine) require caution in renal
impairment. Asthma is not a contraindication. Hgb 11 and Hct 36%
are slightly low but not a primary concern for caution.
Question 4
A nurse is planning teaching for a client who has been prescribed
loperamide to treat diarrhea. Which of the following statements should
the nurse plan to include?
A) Avoid driving or activities requiring alertness
B) Take the medication with a high-fiber meal
C) Stop the medication if diarrhea resolves
D) Take the medication on an empty stomach
Answer: A) Avoid driving or activities requiring alertness
Explanation: Loperamide (Imodium) can cause drowsiness and
fatigue, so clients should avoid driving or activities requiring
alertness. It should be taken with fluids, not necessarily a high-fiber
meal. The medication should be tapered or stopped as directed, not
abruptly stopped. It can be taken with or without food.
, Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has peptic ulcer disease. The nurse
should monitor the client's phosphorus levels when administering which
of the following medications?
A) Aluminum hydroxide
B) Omeprazole
C) Sucralfate
D) Misoprostol
Answer: A) Aluminum hydroxide
Explanation: Aluminum hydroxide (an antacid) can cause
hypophosphatemia (low phosphorus levels) with prolonged use.
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. Sucralfate is a mucosal
protectant. Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analog. These do not
significantly affect phosphorus levels.
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for methotrexate.
The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for manifestations of
which of the following conditions?
A) Hepatotoxicity
B) Nephrotoxicity
C) Cardiotoxicity
D) Ototoxicity
