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Med Surg Exam 4 Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
A patient with an intestinal obstruction has a nasogastric (NG) tube to
suction but reports of nausea and abdominal distention. The nurse
irrigates the tube as necessary as ordered, but the irrigating fluid does
not return. What should be the priority action by the nurse?
Notify the provider.
Auscultate for bowel sounds.
Reposition the tube and check for placement.
Remove the tube and replace it with a new one.
Ans: Correct Answer:
Reposition the tube and check for placement.
Rationale:
The tube may be resting against the stomach wall. The first
action by the nurse is to reposition the tube and check it again
for placement. The provider does not need to be notified unless
the nurse cannot restore the tube function. The patient does
not have bowel sounds, which is why the NG tube is in place.
The NG tube would not be removed and replaced unless it was
no longer in the stomach or the obstruction of the tube could
not be relieved.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
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Two days after a bowel resection for an abdominal mass, a patient
reports gas pains and abdominal distention. The nurse plans care for
the patient based on the knowledge that the symptoms are occurring
as a result what event?
Impaired peristalsis
Irritation of the bowel
Nasogastric suctioning
Inflammation of the incision site
Ans: Correct Answer:
Impaired peristalsis
Rationale:
Until peristalsis returns to normal after anesthesia, the patient
may experience slowed gastrointestinal motility, leading to gas
pains and abdominal distention. Irritation of the bowel,
nasogastric suctioning, and inflammation of the surgical site do
not cause gas pains or abdominal distention.
A patient is planned for discharge home today after ostomy surgery for
colon cancer. The nurse should assign the patient to which staff
member?
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
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An UAP on the unit who has hospice experience
An LPN that has worked on the unit for 10 years
An RN with 6 months of experience on the surgical unit
An RN who has floated to the surgical unit from pediatrics
Ans: Correct Answer:
An RN with 6 months of experience on the surgical unit
Rationale:
The patient needs ostomy care directions and reinforcement at
discharge and should be assigned to a registered nurse with
experience in providing discharge teaching for ostomy care.
Teaching should not be delegated to a LPN/VN or UAP.
The nurse is conducting discharge teaching for a patient with
metastatic lung cancer who was admitted with a bowel impaction.
Which instructions would be most helpful to prevent further episodes
of constipation?
Maintain a high intake of fluid and fiber in the diet.
Discontinue intake of medications causing constipation.
Eat several small meals per day to maintain bowel motility.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
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Sit upright during meals to increase bowel motility by gravity.
Ans: Correct Answer:
Maintain a high intake of fluid and fiber in the diet.
Rationale:
Increased fluid intake and a high-fiber diet reduce the incidence
of constipation caused by immobility, medications, and other
factors. Fluid and fiber provide bulk that in turn increases
peristalsis and bowel motility. Analgesics taken for lung cancer
probably cannot be discontinued. Eating several small meals
per day and position do not facilitate bowel motility.
A patient is given a bisacodyl suppository and asks the nurse how long
it will take to work. What is the best response by the nurse?
2 to 5 minutes
15 to 60 minutes
2 to 4 hours
6 to 8 hours
Ans: Correct Answer:
15 to 60 minutes
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
Med Surg Exam 4 Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
A patient with an intestinal obstruction has a nasogastric (NG) tube to
suction but reports of nausea and abdominal distention. The nurse
irrigates the tube as necessary as ordered, but the irrigating fluid does
not return. What should be the priority action by the nurse?
Notify the provider.
Auscultate for bowel sounds.
Reposition the tube and check for placement.
Remove the tube and replace it with a new one.
Ans: Correct Answer:
Reposition the tube and check for placement.
Rationale:
The tube may be resting against the stomach wall. The first
action by the nurse is to reposition the tube and check it again
for placement. The provider does not need to be notified unless
the nurse cannot restore the tube function. The patient does
not have bowel sounds, which is why the NG tube is in place.
The NG tube would not be removed and replaced unless it was
no longer in the stomach or the obstruction of the tube could
not be relieved.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
Two days after a bowel resection for an abdominal mass, a patient
reports gas pains and abdominal distention. The nurse plans care for
the patient based on the knowledge that the symptoms are occurring
as a result what event?
Impaired peristalsis
Irritation of the bowel
Nasogastric suctioning
Inflammation of the incision site
Ans: Correct Answer:
Impaired peristalsis
Rationale:
Until peristalsis returns to normal after anesthesia, the patient
may experience slowed gastrointestinal motility, leading to gas
pains and abdominal distention. Irritation of the bowel,
nasogastric suctioning, and inflammation of the surgical site do
not cause gas pains or abdominal distention.
A patient is planned for discharge home today after ostomy surgery for
colon cancer. The nurse should assign the patient to which staff
member?
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
An UAP on the unit who has hospice experience
An LPN that has worked on the unit for 10 years
An RN with 6 months of experience on the surgical unit
An RN who has floated to the surgical unit from pediatrics
Ans: Correct Answer:
An RN with 6 months of experience on the surgical unit
Rationale:
The patient needs ostomy care directions and reinforcement at
discharge and should be assigned to a registered nurse with
experience in providing discharge teaching for ostomy care.
Teaching should not be delegated to a LPN/VN or UAP.
The nurse is conducting discharge teaching for a patient with
metastatic lung cancer who was admitted with a bowel impaction.
Which instructions would be most helpful to prevent further episodes
of constipation?
Maintain a high intake of fluid and fiber in the diet.
Discontinue intake of medications causing constipation.
Eat several small meals per day to maintain bowel motility.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |4
Sit upright during meals to increase bowel motility by gravity.
Ans: Correct Answer:
Maintain a high intake of fluid and fiber in the diet.
Rationale:
Increased fluid intake and a high-fiber diet reduce the incidence
of constipation caused by immobility, medications, and other
factors. Fluid and fiber provide bulk that in turn increases
peristalsis and bowel motility. Analgesics taken for lung cancer
probably cannot be discontinued. Eating several small meals
per day and position do not facilitate bowel motility.
A patient is given a bisacodyl suppository and asks the nurse how long
it will take to work. What is the best response by the nurse?
2 to 5 minutes
15 to 60 minutes
2 to 4 hours
6 to 8 hours
Ans: Correct Answer:
15 to 60 minutes
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
