NURS 3700 UPDATED 2026 EXAM SCRIPT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔What treatment measure is used in managing the patient with acute pancreatitis?
a.Surgery to remove the inflamed pancreas
b.Pancreatic enzyme supplements administered with meals
c.NG suction to prevent gastric contents from entering the duodenum
d.Endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy using endoscopic
retrogradecholangiopancreatography - ✔✔c
✔✔A client has been admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and
the nurse is assessing the client's pain. What type of pain is consistent with this
diagnosis?
1. Burning and aching, located in the left lower quadrant and radiating to the hip
2. Severe and unrelenting, located in the epigastric area and radiating to the back
3. Burning and aching, located in the epigastric are and radiating to the umbilicus
4. Severe and unrelenting, located in the left lower quadrant and radiating to the groin -
✔✔2
✔✔Combined with clinical manifestations, what is the laboratory finding that is most
commonly used to diagnose acute pancreatitis?
a. Increased serum calcium
b. Increased serum amylase
c. Increased urinary amylase
d. Decreased serum glucose - ✔✔b
✔✔1.Which focused data should the nurse assess after identifying 4+ pitting edema on
a patient who has cirrhosis?
a.Hemoglobin
b.Temperature
c. Activity level
d. Albumin level - ✔✔d
✔✔2. The occurrence of acute liver failure is most common in what situation?
a.A person with hepatitis A
b.A person with hepatitis B
c.Antihypertensive medication use
d.Use of acetaminophen with alcohol use - ✔✔Answer: D
The most common cause of acute liver failure is drugs, usually acetaminophen in
combination with alcohol. HBV is the second most common cause. HAV is a less
common cause.
✔✔3. Which etiological manifestations occur in the patient with cirrhosis related to
esophageal varices?
,a.Jaundice, peripheral edema, and ascites from increased intrahepatic pressure and
dysfunction
b.Loss of small bile ducts and cholestasis and cirrhosis in patients with other
autoimmune disorders
c.Development of collateral channels of circulation in inelastic, fragile esophageal veins
as a result of portal hypertension.
d.Scarring and nodular changes in the liver lead to compression of the veins and
sinusoids, causing resistance of blood flow through the liver from portal vein -
✔✔Answer: C
Esophageal varies occur when collateral channels of circulation develop in inelastic
fragile veins from portal hypertension.
D. Is portal hypertension it contributes to edema and ascites.
A.Jaunice is from the body's inability to conjugate bilirubin.
B.Biliary cirrhosis causes this
✔✔4. Which conditions contribute to the formation of abdominal ascites?
a.Esophageal varices contribute to 80% of variceal hemorrhages
b.Increased colloidal oncotic pressure caused by decreased albumin production
c.Hypoaldosteronism causes increased sodium reabsorption by the renal tubules
d.Blood flow through the portal system is obstructed, which causes portal hypertension -
✔✔Answer: D
B. Should be decreased serum colloidal oncotic pressure
c. Hyperaldosteronism increased sodium and water retention.
✔✔5. The patient has hepatic encephalopathy. What is a priority nursing intervention to
keep the patient safe?
a.Turn the patient every 3 hours
b.Encourage increasing ambulation
c.Assist the patient to the bathroom
d.Prevent constipation to reduce ammonia production - ✔✔Answer: C
The patient may not be oriented or able to walk to the bathroom alone because of
hyperreflexia, asterixis or decreased motor coordination.
✔✔6. A patient with cirrhosis that is refractory to other treatments for esophageal
varices undergoes a splenorenal shunt. Because of this procedure, what should the
nurse expect the patient to experience?
a.An improved survival rate
b.Decreased serum ammonia levels
c.Improved metabolism of nutrients
d.Improved hemodynamic function and renal perfusion - ✔✔Answer: D
By shunting fluid sequestered in the poral vein into the venous system, pressure on
esophageal veins is decreased and more volume is returned to the circulation,
improving cardiac output and renal perfusion. However, because ammonia is diverted
, past the liver, hepatic encephalopathy may occur (increased ammonia levels). These
procedures do not prolong life or promote liver function.
✔✔7. Combined with clinical manifestations, what is the laboratory finding that is most
commonly used to diagnose acute pancreatitis?
a.Increased serum calcium
b.Increased serum amylase
c.Increased urinary amylase
d.Decreased serum glucose - ✔✔Answer: B
Although serum lipase levels and urinary amylase levels are increased, an increased
serum amylase level is the criterionmost commonly used to diagnose acute pancreatitis
in the first 24-72 hours. Serum calcium levels are decreased and serum glucose is
increased.
✔✔8. A patient with acute pancreatitis has a nursing diagnosis of acute pain resulting
from distension of the pancreas and peritoneal irritation. In addition to effective use of
analgesics, what should the nurse include in this patient's plan of care?
a.Provide diversional activities to distract the patient from the pain
b.Provide small, frequent meals to increase the patient's tolerance of food
c.Position the patient on the side with the head of the bed elevated to 45 degrees for
pain relief.
d.Ambulate the patient every 3-4 hours to increase circulation and decrease abdominal
congestion - ✔✔Answer: C
Positions that flex the trunk and draw the knees up to the abdomen help relieve pain of
acute pancreatitis. Positioning the patient on the side with the HOB elevated decreases
the abdomen tension.
a.Diversional activities are not as helpful as positioning for controlling pain.
b.The patient is usually NPO because food intake increases the pain and inflammation.
d. Bed rest is indicated during the acute attack because of hypovolemia and pain
✔✔9. What is the patient with chronic pancreatitis more likely to have than the patient
with acute pancreatitis?
a.Has acute abdominal pain
b.The need to abstain from alcohol
c.Malabsorption and diabetes mellitus
d.Require a high-carbohydrate, high-protein, low-fat diet - ✔✔Answer: C
Chronic damage to the pancreas causes a deficiency of digestive enzymes and insulin
resulting in malabsorption and diabetes. Abstinence from alcohol is necessary in both
types of pancreatitis, as is a high-carbohydrate, high-protein, and low-fat diet. Although
abdomen pain is a major manifestation of chronic pancreatitis, more commonly a
constant heavy, gnawing feeling occurs.
✔✔10. A patient with an obstruction of the common bile duct has clay-colored fatty
stools among other manifestations. What is the pathophysiologic change that causes
this manifestation?
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔What treatment measure is used in managing the patient with acute pancreatitis?
a.Surgery to remove the inflamed pancreas
b.Pancreatic enzyme supplements administered with meals
c.NG suction to prevent gastric contents from entering the duodenum
d.Endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy using endoscopic
retrogradecholangiopancreatography - ✔✔c
✔✔A client has been admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and
the nurse is assessing the client's pain. What type of pain is consistent with this
diagnosis?
1. Burning and aching, located in the left lower quadrant and radiating to the hip
2. Severe and unrelenting, located in the epigastric area and radiating to the back
3. Burning and aching, located in the epigastric are and radiating to the umbilicus
4. Severe and unrelenting, located in the left lower quadrant and radiating to the groin -
✔✔2
✔✔Combined with clinical manifestations, what is the laboratory finding that is most
commonly used to diagnose acute pancreatitis?
a. Increased serum calcium
b. Increased serum amylase
c. Increased urinary amylase
d. Decreased serum glucose - ✔✔b
✔✔1.Which focused data should the nurse assess after identifying 4+ pitting edema on
a patient who has cirrhosis?
a.Hemoglobin
b.Temperature
c. Activity level
d. Albumin level - ✔✔d
✔✔2. The occurrence of acute liver failure is most common in what situation?
a.A person with hepatitis A
b.A person with hepatitis B
c.Antihypertensive medication use
d.Use of acetaminophen with alcohol use - ✔✔Answer: D
The most common cause of acute liver failure is drugs, usually acetaminophen in
combination with alcohol. HBV is the second most common cause. HAV is a less
common cause.
✔✔3. Which etiological manifestations occur in the patient with cirrhosis related to
esophageal varices?
,a.Jaundice, peripheral edema, and ascites from increased intrahepatic pressure and
dysfunction
b.Loss of small bile ducts and cholestasis and cirrhosis in patients with other
autoimmune disorders
c.Development of collateral channels of circulation in inelastic, fragile esophageal veins
as a result of portal hypertension.
d.Scarring and nodular changes in the liver lead to compression of the veins and
sinusoids, causing resistance of blood flow through the liver from portal vein -
✔✔Answer: C
Esophageal varies occur when collateral channels of circulation develop in inelastic
fragile veins from portal hypertension.
D. Is portal hypertension it contributes to edema and ascites.
A.Jaunice is from the body's inability to conjugate bilirubin.
B.Biliary cirrhosis causes this
✔✔4. Which conditions contribute to the formation of abdominal ascites?
a.Esophageal varices contribute to 80% of variceal hemorrhages
b.Increased colloidal oncotic pressure caused by decreased albumin production
c.Hypoaldosteronism causes increased sodium reabsorption by the renal tubules
d.Blood flow through the portal system is obstructed, which causes portal hypertension -
✔✔Answer: D
B. Should be decreased serum colloidal oncotic pressure
c. Hyperaldosteronism increased sodium and water retention.
✔✔5. The patient has hepatic encephalopathy. What is a priority nursing intervention to
keep the patient safe?
a.Turn the patient every 3 hours
b.Encourage increasing ambulation
c.Assist the patient to the bathroom
d.Prevent constipation to reduce ammonia production - ✔✔Answer: C
The patient may not be oriented or able to walk to the bathroom alone because of
hyperreflexia, asterixis or decreased motor coordination.
✔✔6. A patient with cirrhosis that is refractory to other treatments for esophageal
varices undergoes a splenorenal shunt. Because of this procedure, what should the
nurse expect the patient to experience?
a.An improved survival rate
b.Decreased serum ammonia levels
c.Improved metabolism of nutrients
d.Improved hemodynamic function and renal perfusion - ✔✔Answer: D
By shunting fluid sequestered in the poral vein into the venous system, pressure on
esophageal veins is decreased and more volume is returned to the circulation,
improving cardiac output and renal perfusion. However, because ammonia is diverted
, past the liver, hepatic encephalopathy may occur (increased ammonia levels). These
procedures do not prolong life or promote liver function.
✔✔7. Combined with clinical manifestations, what is the laboratory finding that is most
commonly used to diagnose acute pancreatitis?
a.Increased serum calcium
b.Increased serum amylase
c.Increased urinary amylase
d.Decreased serum glucose - ✔✔Answer: B
Although serum lipase levels and urinary amylase levels are increased, an increased
serum amylase level is the criterionmost commonly used to diagnose acute pancreatitis
in the first 24-72 hours. Serum calcium levels are decreased and serum glucose is
increased.
✔✔8. A patient with acute pancreatitis has a nursing diagnosis of acute pain resulting
from distension of the pancreas and peritoneal irritation. In addition to effective use of
analgesics, what should the nurse include in this patient's plan of care?
a.Provide diversional activities to distract the patient from the pain
b.Provide small, frequent meals to increase the patient's tolerance of food
c.Position the patient on the side with the head of the bed elevated to 45 degrees for
pain relief.
d.Ambulate the patient every 3-4 hours to increase circulation and decrease abdominal
congestion - ✔✔Answer: C
Positions that flex the trunk and draw the knees up to the abdomen help relieve pain of
acute pancreatitis. Positioning the patient on the side with the HOB elevated decreases
the abdomen tension.
a.Diversional activities are not as helpful as positioning for controlling pain.
b.The patient is usually NPO because food intake increases the pain and inflammation.
d. Bed rest is indicated during the acute attack because of hypovolemia and pain
✔✔9. What is the patient with chronic pancreatitis more likely to have than the patient
with acute pancreatitis?
a.Has acute abdominal pain
b.The need to abstain from alcohol
c.Malabsorption and diabetes mellitus
d.Require a high-carbohydrate, high-protein, low-fat diet - ✔✔Answer: C
Chronic damage to the pancreas causes a deficiency of digestive enzymes and insulin
resulting in malabsorption and diabetes. Abstinence from alcohol is necessary in both
types of pancreatitis, as is a high-carbohydrate, high-protein, and low-fat diet. Although
abdomen pain is a major manifestation of chronic pancreatitis, more commonly a
constant heavy, gnawing feeling occurs.
✔✔10. A patient with an obstruction of the common bile duct has clay-colored fatty
stools among other manifestations. What is the pathophysiologic change that causes
this manifestation?
