NUR 321 Practice Test Questions and
Correct Answers
A patient has been admitted to the hospital due to experiencing vomiting for several
days. The cause of the patient's vomiting is unknown. Which of the following
interventions should be considered the nurse's priority in providing care for this patient?
a. Administration of parenteral antiemetics
b. Insertion of an NG tube for suction
c. IV replacement of fluid and electrolytes
d. Oral administration of broth & tea ✅C
What increases a patient's risk for candidiasis (a fungus infection - think oral thrush)?
✅Poor oral care, certain meds, dry mouth, high antibiotic & steroid use, high sugar,
rinse your mouth after using inhalers
Which type of infection or inflammation of the mouth can occur as a result of
chemotherapy, renal disease, or liver disease?
a. Canker sores
b. Oral Candidiasis
c. Parotitis
d. Mucositis ✅D
When caring for a patient in the initial post-operative period after a partial glossectomy
with a radial neck dissection, which of the following is the nurse's primary concern?
a. Assessing the patient's coping
b. Maintaining a patent airway
c. Providing adequate nutrition
d. Relieving the patient's pain ✅B
What are some precipitating factors for gastritis? ✅GERD, hiatal hernia, H. pylori,
NSAIDs, corticosteroids, alcohol, diet, spicy/acidic foods, recurring N/V, smoking
Describe examples of patient teaching you should provide to a patient with gastritis.
✅Avoid sugary foods, small frequent meals, space fluids in between meals, antibiotic
compliance, stop drinking and smoking
Which of the following describes proper patient teaching for a patient with chronic
gastritis?
a. Eliminate alcohol & caffeine from the diet when symptoms occur
b. Maintain a nonirritating diet with six small meals a day
c. Take antiacids before meals to decrease stomach acidity
d. Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) instead of aspiration for pain
relief ✅B
, Which type of peptic ulcer is most common and involves mid-epigastic pain that can
improve when eating? ✅Duodenal
Which patient is at highest risk for having a gastric ulcer?
a. A 27 year old male who is in the middle of a divorce & experiencing back pain
b. A 37 year old male who smoke and recently fell at home
c. A 45 year old female admitted for illicit drug detoxification
d. A 55 year old female who smokes and reports severe nausea and vomiting ✅D
A patient with a history of PUD is hospitalized with symptoms of a perforation. During
the initial assessment, the nurse expects the patient to report which of the following
signs and symptoms
a. Hyperactive bowel sound and upper abdominal swelling
b. Projectile vomiting of undigested foods
c. Sudden, severe upper abdominal pain and back pain
d. Vomiting of bright red blood ✅C
rationale: most severe pain wherever perforation is
A nurse receives in report that a male patient who had Billroth II procedure a few weeks
ago is not experiencing dumping syndrome. Which of the following statements most
accurately explains the pathophysiology associated with the patient's symptoms
a. Distention of the stomach due to too much food and fluid intake
b. Hyperglycemia caused by uncontrolled gastric emptying into the small intestines
c. Irritation of the stomach lining by reflux of bile salts because of the removal of the
pyloric sphincter
d. Movement of fluid into the small bowel because food and fluids move rapidly into the
intestines ✅D
rationale: Dumping syndrome at risk for dehydration, f&e imbalance, hypoglycemia
A patient is admitted to the ER with bright red emesis. What is the nurse's first priority
during the initial care of this patient?
a. Establish two IV sites with large gauge catheters
b. Obtain a thorough health history to assist in determining the cause of bleeding
c. Provide a focused nursing assessment of the patient's status
d. Provide a gastric lavage with cool tap water in preparation for a endoscopic
procedure ✅C
rationale: focus words: first, priority, initial care; the first thing you will do as a nurse is
assess
What do you do if a patient refuses a blood transfusion? ✅Document, respect the
decision, tell the provider, ask about possible concerns, teaching options, benefits and
risks
A 32 year old female presents to the ER with nausea and vomiting and vague
abdominal pain for the past 2 days. The nurse's priority intervention would be to:
Correct Answers
A patient has been admitted to the hospital due to experiencing vomiting for several
days. The cause of the patient's vomiting is unknown. Which of the following
interventions should be considered the nurse's priority in providing care for this patient?
a. Administration of parenteral antiemetics
b. Insertion of an NG tube for suction
c. IV replacement of fluid and electrolytes
d. Oral administration of broth & tea ✅C
What increases a patient's risk for candidiasis (a fungus infection - think oral thrush)?
✅Poor oral care, certain meds, dry mouth, high antibiotic & steroid use, high sugar,
rinse your mouth after using inhalers
Which type of infection or inflammation of the mouth can occur as a result of
chemotherapy, renal disease, or liver disease?
a. Canker sores
b. Oral Candidiasis
c. Parotitis
d. Mucositis ✅D
When caring for a patient in the initial post-operative period after a partial glossectomy
with a radial neck dissection, which of the following is the nurse's primary concern?
a. Assessing the patient's coping
b. Maintaining a patent airway
c. Providing adequate nutrition
d. Relieving the patient's pain ✅B
What are some precipitating factors for gastritis? ✅GERD, hiatal hernia, H. pylori,
NSAIDs, corticosteroids, alcohol, diet, spicy/acidic foods, recurring N/V, smoking
Describe examples of patient teaching you should provide to a patient with gastritis.
✅Avoid sugary foods, small frequent meals, space fluids in between meals, antibiotic
compliance, stop drinking and smoking
Which of the following describes proper patient teaching for a patient with chronic
gastritis?
a. Eliminate alcohol & caffeine from the diet when symptoms occur
b. Maintain a nonirritating diet with six small meals a day
c. Take antiacids before meals to decrease stomach acidity
d. Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) instead of aspiration for pain
relief ✅B
, Which type of peptic ulcer is most common and involves mid-epigastic pain that can
improve when eating? ✅Duodenal
Which patient is at highest risk for having a gastric ulcer?
a. A 27 year old male who is in the middle of a divorce & experiencing back pain
b. A 37 year old male who smoke and recently fell at home
c. A 45 year old female admitted for illicit drug detoxification
d. A 55 year old female who smokes and reports severe nausea and vomiting ✅D
A patient with a history of PUD is hospitalized with symptoms of a perforation. During
the initial assessment, the nurse expects the patient to report which of the following
signs and symptoms
a. Hyperactive bowel sound and upper abdominal swelling
b. Projectile vomiting of undigested foods
c. Sudden, severe upper abdominal pain and back pain
d. Vomiting of bright red blood ✅C
rationale: most severe pain wherever perforation is
A nurse receives in report that a male patient who had Billroth II procedure a few weeks
ago is not experiencing dumping syndrome. Which of the following statements most
accurately explains the pathophysiology associated with the patient's symptoms
a. Distention of the stomach due to too much food and fluid intake
b. Hyperglycemia caused by uncontrolled gastric emptying into the small intestines
c. Irritation of the stomach lining by reflux of bile salts because of the removal of the
pyloric sphincter
d. Movement of fluid into the small bowel because food and fluids move rapidly into the
intestines ✅D
rationale: Dumping syndrome at risk for dehydration, f&e imbalance, hypoglycemia
A patient is admitted to the ER with bright red emesis. What is the nurse's first priority
during the initial care of this patient?
a. Establish two IV sites with large gauge catheters
b. Obtain a thorough health history to assist in determining the cause of bleeding
c. Provide a focused nursing assessment of the patient's status
d. Provide a gastric lavage with cool tap water in preparation for a endoscopic
procedure ✅C
rationale: focus words: first, priority, initial care; the first thing you will do as a nurse is
assess
What do you do if a patient refuses a blood transfusion? ✅Document, respect the
decision, tell the provider, ask about possible concerns, teaching options, benefits and
risks
A 32 year old female presents to the ER with nausea and vomiting and vague
abdominal pain for the past 2 days. The nurse's priority intervention would be to:
