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TEST BANK - BRUNNER & SUDDARTH'S MEDICAL-
SURGICAL NURSING 16TH EDITION (HINKLE 2026) |
CHAPTERS | NGN STYLE Q&A | GRADED A+
CHAPTER 38, 39, 40, 41, 43,44
Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a colonoscopy and whose preparation
will include polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage prior to the procedure. The presence of
what health problem would contraindicate the use of this form of bowel preparation?
A. Inflammatory bowel disease
B. Intestinal polyps
C. Diverticulitis
D. Colon cancer
A
Rationale: The use of a lavage solution is contraindicated in clients with intestinal obstruction or
inflammatory bowel disease. It can safely be used with clients who have polyps, colon cancer, or
diverticulitis.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1219
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
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TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Nursing Process BLM: Cognitive Level: Understand
Multiple Choice
2. A nurse is promoting increased protein intake to enhance a client's wound healing. What
is the enzyme that will initiate the digestion of the protein that the client consumes?
A. Pepsin
B. Intrinsic factor
C. Lipase
D. Amylase
A
Rationale: The enzyme that initiates the digestion of protein is pepsin. Intrinsic factor combines
with vitamin B12 for absorption by the ileum. Lipase aids in the digestion of fats and amylase
aids in the digestion of starch.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1210
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Nursing Process BLM: Cognitive Level: Understand
Multiple Choice
3. A client has been brought to the emergency department with abdominal pain and is
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subsequently diagnosed with appendicitis. The client is scheduled for an appendectomy but
questions the nurse about how a person's health is affected by the absence of the appendix.
How should the nurse best respond?
A. "Your appendix doesn't play a major role in health, so you won't notice any difference
after your recovery from surgery."
B. "The surgeon will encourage you to limit your fat intake for a few weeks after the
surgery, but your body will then begin to compensate."
C. "Your body will absorb slightly fewer nutrients from the food you eat, but you won't be
aware of this."
D. "Your small intestine will adapt over time to the absence of your appendix."
A
Rationale: The appendix is an appendage of the cecum (not the small intestine) that has little or
no physiologic function. Its absence does not affect digestion or absorption.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1209
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning BLM: Cognitive Level: Apply
Multiple Choice
4. An adult client is scheduled for an upper GI series that will use a barium swallow. What
teaching should the nurse include when the client has completed the test?
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A. Stool will be yellow for the first 24 hours' postprocedure.
B. The barium may cause diarrhea for the next 24 hours.
C. Fluids must be increased to facilitate the evacuation of the stool.
D. Slight anal bleeding may be noted as the barium is passed.
C
Rationale: Postprocedural client education includes information about increasing fluid intake;
evaluating bowel movements for evacuation of barium; and noting increased number of bowel
movements. The number of bowel movement is noted because barium, due to its high osmolarity,
may draw fluid into the bowel, thus increasing the intraluminal contents and resulting in greater
output. Yellow stool, diarrhea, and anal bleeding are not expected.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1219
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning BLM: Cognitive Level: Apply
Multiple Choice
5. A nurse is caring for a client with recurrent hematemesis who is scheduled for upper
gastrointestinal fibroscopy. How should the nurse in the radiology department prepare this
client?
A. Insert a nasogastric tube.
B. Administer a micro Fleet enema at least 3 hours before the procedure.
TEST BANK - BRUNNER & SUDDARTH'S MEDICAL-
SURGICAL NURSING 16TH EDITION (HINKLE 2026) |
CHAPTERS | NGN STYLE Q&A | GRADED A+
CHAPTER 38, 39, 40, 41, 43,44
Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a colonoscopy and whose preparation
will include polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage prior to the procedure. The presence of
what health problem would contraindicate the use of this form of bowel preparation?
A. Inflammatory bowel disease
B. Intestinal polyps
C. Diverticulitis
D. Colon cancer
A
Rationale: The use of a lavage solution is contraindicated in clients with intestinal obstruction or
inflammatory bowel disease. It can safely be used with clients who have polyps, colon cancer, or
diverticulitis.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1219
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
,2|Page Doc 66
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Nursing Process BLM: Cognitive Level: Understand
Multiple Choice
2. A nurse is promoting increased protein intake to enhance a client's wound healing. What
is the enzyme that will initiate the digestion of the protein that the client consumes?
A. Pepsin
B. Intrinsic factor
C. Lipase
D. Amylase
A
Rationale: The enzyme that initiates the digestion of protein is pepsin. Intrinsic factor combines
with vitamin B12 for absorption by the ileum. Lipase aids in the digestion of fats and amylase
aids in the digestion of starch.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1210
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Nursing Process BLM: Cognitive Level: Understand
Multiple Choice
3. A client has been brought to the emergency department with abdominal pain and is
,3|Page Doc 66
subsequently diagnosed with appendicitis. The client is scheduled for an appendectomy but
questions the nurse about how a person's health is affected by the absence of the appendix.
How should the nurse best respond?
A. "Your appendix doesn't play a major role in health, so you won't notice any difference
after your recovery from surgery."
B. "The surgeon will encourage you to limit your fat intake for a few weeks after the
surgery, but your body will then begin to compensate."
C. "Your body will absorb slightly fewer nutrients from the food you eat, but you won't be
aware of this."
D. "Your small intestine will adapt over time to the absence of your appendix."
A
Rationale: The appendix is an appendage of the cecum (not the small intestine) that has little or
no physiologic function. Its absence does not affect digestion or absorption.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1209
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning BLM: Cognitive Level: Apply
Multiple Choice
4. An adult client is scheduled for an upper GI series that will use a barium swallow. What
teaching should the nurse include when the client has completed the test?
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A. Stool will be yellow for the first 24 hours' postprocedure.
B. The barium may cause diarrhea for the next 24 hours.
C. Fluids must be increased to facilitate the evacuation of the stool.
D. Slight anal bleeding may be noted as the barium is passed.
C
Rationale: Postprocedural client education includes information about increasing fluid intake;
evaluating bowel movements for evacuation of barium; and noting increased number of bowel
movements. The number of bowel movement is noted because barium, due to its high osmolarity,
may draw fluid into the bowel, thus increasing the intraluminal contents and resulting in greater
output. Yellow stool, diarrhea, and anal bleeding are not expected.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1219
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning BLM: Cognitive Level: Apply
Multiple Choice
5. A nurse is caring for a client with recurrent hematemesis who is scheduled for upper
gastrointestinal fibroscopy. How should the nurse in the radiology department prepare this
client?
A. Insert a nasogastric tube.
B. Administer a micro Fleet enema at least 3 hours before the procedure.
