Chamberlain NR 511 Midterm questions and
answers 2026\2027 A+ Grade
What are common causes of N/V associated with gastritis?
- correct answer Alcohol, NSAIDs, ASA, ABX, and illicit substances
What is the most common cause of nausea and vomiting?
- correct answer Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE)
What are some manifestations of AGE?
- correct answer Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain. May also include fatigue,
malaise, anorexia, tenesmus and borborygmus.
How is the severity of AGE gauged?
- correct answer Dehydration secondary to profuse watery diarrhea, fever greater than 101ºF (38.3ºC),
vomiting, or dysentery.
What are important parts of a patient's history when AGE is suspected?
- correct answer Travel, dining locations, ABX history..
What happens to the pH of the stomach when antacids are taken and how does this affect bacteria?
- correct answer High pH can make it easier for bacteria to survive and cause and infection.
How does motility of the GI tract affect bacteria colonization?
- correct answer Small bowel stasis as a result of obstruction, diverticulitis, or blind loop syndrome
frequently develop an overgrowth of bacteria within the stagnant segment.
Which immunoglobulin may protect the GI tract against invading organisms?
- correct answer IgA...may also help protect against a future attack by the same pathogen.
,Onset of N/V begin within 6 hours after exposure. Is this bacterial or viral?
- correct answer Bacterial: time frame suggests food poisoning resulting from the ingestion of a
preformed toxin such as that of Bacillus cereus.
What two indications are highly suggestive of viral AGE?
- correct answer Incubation periods greater than 14 hours and the initial symptom of vomiting.
If a patient presents with AGE and reports bloody stools, what can be understood about the reason for
blood in the stool/
- correct answer Mucosal damage and inflammatory process secondary to invasive pathogens.
What do frothy stools and flatus suggest?
- correct answer Malabsorption problem.
Patients with prolonged AGE illness who are malnourished may present with edema. What is the
reason?
- correct answer Hypoalbuminemia
T or F: Chronic diarrhea usually has a noninfectious etiology.
- correct answer True
T or F: Acute diarrhea usually is caused by infectious agents or toxins
- correct answer True
What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in adults?
- correct answer Norovirus
What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in pediatrics?
- correct answer Rotavirus. This has been greatly reduced since the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine.
T or F: Stool studies are indicated in the absence of bloody diarrhea or systemic disease
- correct answer False
,T or F: A CBC will help distinguish between viral and bacterial AGE
- correct answer False
When are stool studies warranted?
- correct answer Severe or prolonged diarrhea, a fever > 38.5ºC, bloody stools or stools that test positive
for leukocytes or occult blood.
What are common pathogens involved in Traveler's Diarrhea?
- correct answer Shigella, Campylobacter, and E. coli.
What should the clinician do if the patient develops diarrhea after initiation of completion of antibiotic
therapy?
- correct answer Test for C. diff.
What are some DDx of AGE, particularly in patients with persistent or chronic diarrhea and severe
abdominal pain?
- correct answer IBS, IBD, ischemic bowel disease, partial bowel obstruction, small bowel diverticulosis.
What are some red flag symptoms that may indicate the need for hospitalization?
- correct answer Hypovolemia, dehydration, abnormal electrolytes, decreased renal function, bloody
stool/rectal bleeding, weight loss, severe abdominal pain, prolonged symptoms greater than 1 week,
pregnancy, advanced age, history of hospitalization or antibiotic use in the last 3-6 months.
What is the usual course of treatment for AGE?
- correct answer Only supportive treatment is initiated since AGE is usually self-limiting and resolves
within 1 week after onset of symptoms.
How such patients with evidence of dehydration be treated initially?
- correct answer Fluid repletion and nutrition. Sports drinks aren't as effective as specific electrolyte
replenishing drinks.
At what point should a patient be referred to the hospital for dehydration?
- correct answer Signs of hypovolemia such as hypotension, tachycardia, pallor, and poor skin turgor.
, T of F: Empiric antimicrobial therapy is recommended for patients with severe diarrhea suspected form
traveling.
- correct answer True. Bactrim, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Floxacin.
T or F: Antibiotic prophylaxis for patients traveling to high-risk areas is appropriate.
- correct answer True
How effective is antibiotic prophylaxis for patients traveling to high-risk areas?
- correct answer 90% effective
What does antibiotic prophylaxis treatment consist of?
- correct answer Bactrim, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, or Floxacin given once daily until 2 days after
returning home.
What is an appropriate symptomatic treatment for patients < 65 years or age with moderate to severe
diarrhea?
- correct answer Two-day course of Loperamide (Imodium)
What is an appropriate symptomatic treatment for patients < 65 years or age with significant vomiting?
- correct answer Two-day course of Zofran or Phenergan.
What is the best way to prevent AGE?
- correct answer Hand washing.
T or F: Kids can attend daycare with infectious diarrhea as long as they're separated from other children.
- correct answer False! Not until the diarrhea has stopped.
If pain is present in the right lower quadrant, what might be the etiology related to bowel disorders?
- correct answer IBD, IBS, Infectious Colitis, and Constipation
If pain is present in the left lower quadrant, what might be the etiology related to bowel disorders?
- correct answer Diverticulitis, IBS, IBD, Constipation, and Infectious Colitis.
answers 2026\2027 A+ Grade
What are common causes of N/V associated with gastritis?
- correct answer Alcohol, NSAIDs, ASA, ABX, and illicit substances
What is the most common cause of nausea and vomiting?
- correct answer Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE)
What are some manifestations of AGE?
- correct answer Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain. May also include fatigue,
malaise, anorexia, tenesmus and borborygmus.
How is the severity of AGE gauged?
- correct answer Dehydration secondary to profuse watery diarrhea, fever greater than 101ºF (38.3ºC),
vomiting, or dysentery.
What are important parts of a patient's history when AGE is suspected?
- correct answer Travel, dining locations, ABX history..
What happens to the pH of the stomach when antacids are taken and how does this affect bacteria?
- correct answer High pH can make it easier for bacteria to survive and cause and infection.
How does motility of the GI tract affect bacteria colonization?
- correct answer Small bowel stasis as a result of obstruction, diverticulitis, or blind loop syndrome
frequently develop an overgrowth of bacteria within the stagnant segment.
Which immunoglobulin may protect the GI tract against invading organisms?
- correct answer IgA...may also help protect against a future attack by the same pathogen.
,Onset of N/V begin within 6 hours after exposure. Is this bacterial or viral?
- correct answer Bacterial: time frame suggests food poisoning resulting from the ingestion of a
preformed toxin such as that of Bacillus cereus.
What two indications are highly suggestive of viral AGE?
- correct answer Incubation periods greater than 14 hours and the initial symptom of vomiting.
If a patient presents with AGE and reports bloody stools, what can be understood about the reason for
blood in the stool/
- correct answer Mucosal damage and inflammatory process secondary to invasive pathogens.
What do frothy stools and flatus suggest?
- correct answer Malabsorption problem.
Patients with prolonged AGE illness who are malnourished may present with edema. What is the
reason?
- correct answer Hypoalbuminemia
T or F: Chronic diarrhea usually has a noninfectious etiology.
- correct answer True
T or F: Acute diarrhea usually is caused by infectious agents or toxins
- correct answer True
What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in adults?
- correct answer Norovirus
What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in pediatrics?
- correct answer Rotavirus. This has been greatly reduced since the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine.
T or F: Stool studies are indicated in the absence of bloody diarrhea or systemic disease
- correct answer False
,T or F: A CBC will help distinguish between viral and bacterial AGE
- correct answer False
When are stool studies warranted?
- correct answer Severe or prolonged diarrhea, a fever > 38.5ºC, bloody stools or stools that test positive
for leukocytes or occult blood.
What are common pathogens involved in Traveler's Diarrhea?
- correct answer Shigella, Campylobacter, and E. coli.
What should the clinician do if the patient develops diarrhea after initiation of completion of antibiotic
therapy?
- correct answer Test for C. diff.
What are some DDx of AGE, particularly in patients with persistent or chronic diarrhea and severe
abdominal pain?
- correct answer IBS, IBD, ischemic bowel disease, partial bowel obstruction, small bowel diverticulosis.
What are some red flag symptoms that may indicate the need for hospitalization?
- correct answer Hypovolemia, dehydration, abnormal electrolytes, decreased renal function, bloody
stool/rectal bleeding, weight loss, severe abdominal pain, prolonged symptoms greater than 1 week,
pregnancy, advanced age, history of hospitalization or antibiotic use in the last 3-6 months.
What is the usual course of treatment for AGE?
- correct answer Only supportive treatment is initiated since AGE is usually self-limiting and resolves
within 1 week after onset of symptoms.
How such patients with evidence of dehydration be treated initially?
- correct answer Fluid repletion and nutrition. Sports drinks aren't as effective as specific electrolyte
replenishing drinks.
At what point should a patient be referred to the hospital for dehydration?
- correct answer Signs of hypovolemia such as hypotension, tachycardia, pallor, and poor skin turgor.
, T of F: Empiric antimicrobial therapy is recommended for patients with severe diarrhea suspected form
traveling.
- correct answer True. Bactrim, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Floxacin.
T or F: Antibiotic prophylaxis for patients traveling to high-risk areas is appropriate.
- correct answer True
How effective is antibiotic prophylaxis for patients traveling to high-risk areas?
- correct answer 90% effective
What does antibiotic prophylaxis treatment consist of?
- correct answer Bactrim, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, or Floxacin given once daily until 2 days after
returning home.
What is an appropriate symptomatic treatment for patients < 65 years or age with moderate to severe
diarrhea?
- correct answer Two-day course of Loperamide (Imodium)
What is an appropriate symptomatic treatment for patients < 65 years or age with significant vomiting?
- correct answer Two-day course of Zofran or Phenergan.
What is the best way to prevent AGE?
- correct answer Hand washing.
T or F: Kids can attend daycare with infectious diarrhea as long as they're separated from other children.
- correct answer False! Not until the diarrhea has stopped.
If pain is present in the right lower quadrant, what might be the etiology related to bowel disorders?
- correct answer IBD, IBS, Infectious Colitis, and Constipation
If pain is present in the left lower quadrant, what might be the etiology related to bowel disorders?
- correct answer Diverticulitis, IBS, IBD, Constipation, and Infectious Colitis.
