WGU ADULT HEALTH TEST 6 |69 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
Excessive bleeding
Excessive or heavy bleeding is a possible complication following a sigmoidoscopy.
It must be reported immediately to the health care provider. Nausea, vomiting,
and severe rectal pain are not common complications of sigmoidoscopy. Gas and
flatulence are expected assessment findings post-sigmoidoscopy (p. 36) -
CORRECT ANSWER A client had a routine sigmoidoscopy with a tissue biopsy.
What post procedure complication would the nurse report to the health care
provider?
"I will need to have a routine colonoscopy every 5 years."
The 2015 guidelines indicate that routine screening with colonoscopy is
performed every 10 years, not every 5 years. Other options are performed at 5-
year intervals. A barium enema every 5 years is a screening option. A flexible
sigmoidoscopy and a "virtual" colonoscopy every 5 years are also acceptable for
screening. A "virtual" colonoscopy or CT colonography is a noninvasive imaging
procedure that takes multidimensional views of the entire colon. - CORRECT
ANSWER The nurse is educating a group of older adults about screening for
colorectal cancer. Which statement by a group member indicates the need for
further clarification about these guidelines?
Decreased hydrochloric acid levels
In older adults, decreased hydrochloric acid levels (hypochlorhydria) results from
atrophy of the gastric mucosa. A decrease in lipase production results from
,calcification of pancreatic vessels. A decrease in the number and size of hepatic
cells leads to decreased liver weight and mass. Peristalsis decreases, and nerve
impulses are dulled. - CORRECT ANSWER What is a common gastrointestinal
problem that older adults experience more frequently as they age?
Asking the client whether he or she has passed flatus (gas) within the previous 12
to 24 hours. (p. 17)
The best and most reliable method for assessing the return of peristalsis following
abdominal surgery is the client's report of passing flatus within the past 8 hours or
stool within the past 12 hours. Although auscultation and counting the number of
sounds was once a method of assessing for bowel activity, it is no longer
considered the most effective method. Observing the abdomen is one method of
examining a client's abdomen, but it is not a reliable way to assess for resumption
of activity after surgery. - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse is assessing an alert client
who had abdominal surgery yesterday. What method provides the most accurate
data about resumption of peristalsis in the client?
Notify the provider about this finding immediately.
The nurse needs to immediately notify the health care provider because a bulging,
pulsating mass may indicate an abdominal aortic aneurysm requiring emergency
actions. Palpating the abdomen or even touching the abdomen with a
stethoscope may cause this to rupture, which would be a life-threatening
emergency. Because this is a potential life-threatening situation, questioning the
client about stool habits is not appropriate. - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse is
assessing a client who comes to the emergency department with acute abdominal
pain. The nurse notes a bulging, pulsating mass when inspecting the abdomen.
Which action by the nurse is correct?
,"Begin a clear liquid diet at least 24 hours before the test."
The nurse tells the client to be on a clear liquid diet for at least 24 hours to
cleanse the bowel before a colonoscopy. The client must be NPO (except for
water) 4 to 6 hours before a colonoscopy, not 12 hours. Also, the client needs to
avoid aspirin, anticoagulants, and antiplatelet drugs for several days before the
procedure. Diabetic clients need to check with their health care provider about
drug therapy requirements on the day of the test because they are NPO. The
client would not give him/herself a tap water enema. Clients must not take all
currently prescribed medications without first checking with their doctor. -
CORRECT ANSWER A client is scheduled for a colonoscopy. What does the nurse
tell the client to do before the procedure is performed?
Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
The assessment technique proceeds as inspection, auscultation, percussion,
palpation. This sequence is different from that used for other body systems. It is
used so that palpation and percussion do not increase intestinal activity and
bowel sounds. Nurse generalists may perform inspection, auscultation, and light
palpation; percussion and deep palpation may be done by advanced practice
nurses. Inspection must be the first assessment technique. Options beginning with
auscultation, palpation, or percussion are incorrect. - CORRECT ANSWER The
nurse practitioner is performing an abdominal assessment on a newly admitted
client. In which order should the nurse proceed with assessment technique?
Intestinal obstruction
, The nurse would suspect an intestinal obstruction related to peristaltic
movements. Peristaltic movements are rarely seen except in thin clients. This
needs to be reported to the Cacatua diarrhea does not cause visible peristaltic
movements. Aortic aneurysm may cause a bulging, pulsatile mass. Pancreatitis is
characterized by severe pain. - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse is assessing a client
who has come to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain. The
client is very thin and the nurse observes visible peristaltic movements when
inspecting the abdomen. What does the nurse suspect?
Examines the RUQ of the abdomen last following all other assessment techniques.
If the client reports pain in the RUQ, the nurse would examine this area last in the
examination sequence. This sequence prevents the client from tensing abdominal
muscles because of the pain, which would make the examination difficult. The
sequence for examining the abdomen is inspection, auscultation, percussion, and
then palpation. This sequence prevents the increase in intestinal activity and
bowel sounds caused by palpation and percussion. The client would be positioned
supine with the knees bent, while keeping the arms at the sides to prevent tensing
of the abdominal muscles. If a bulging, pulsating mass is present during
assessment of the abdomen, do not touch the area because the client may have
an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a life-threatening problem. Notify the health care
provider of this finding immediately! - CORRECT ANSWER A client is admitted to
the hospital with severe right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain. Which
assessment technique does the nurse use for this client?
A 40-year-old who needs laxatives administered and effectiveness monitored
before a colonoscopy
VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
Excessive bleeding
Excessive or heavy bleeding is a possible complication following a sigmoidoscopy.
It must be reported immediately to the health care provider. Nausea, vomiting,
and severe rectal pain are not common complications of sigmoidoscopy. Gas and
flatulence are expected assessment findings post-sigmoidoscopy (p. 36) -
CORRECT ANSWER A client had a routine sigmoidoscopy with a tissue biopsy.
What post procedure complication would the nurse report to the health care
provider?
"I will need to have a routine colonoscopy every 5 years."
The 2015 guidelines indicate that routine screening with colonoscopy is
performed every 10 years, not every 5 years. Other options are performed at 5-
year intervals. A barium enema every 5 years is a screening option. A flexible
sigmoidoscopy and a "virtual" colonoscopy every 5 years are also acceptable for
screening. A "virtual" colonoscopy or CT colonography is a noninvasive imaging
procedure that takes multidimensional views of the entire colon. - CORRECT
ANSWER The nurse is educating a group of older adults about screening for
colorectal cancer. Which statement by a group member indicates the need for
further clarification about these guidelines?
Decreased hydrochloric acid levels
In older adults, decreased hydrochloric acid levels (hypochlorhydria) results from
atrophy of the gastric mucosa. A decrease in lipase production results from
,calcification of pancreatic vessels. A decrease in the number and size of hepatic
cells leads to decreased liver weight and mass. Peristalsis decreases, and nerve
impulses are dulled. - CORRECT ANSWER What is a common gastrointestinal
problem that older adults experience more frequently as they age?
Asking the client whether he or she has passed flatus (gas) within the previous 12
to 24 hours. (p. 17)
The best and most reliable method for assessing the return of peristalsis following
abdominal surgery is the client's report of passing flatus within the past 8 hours or
stool within the past 12 hours. Although auscultation and counting the number of
sounds was once a method of assessing for bowel activity, it is no longer
considered the most effective method. Observing the abdomen is one method of
examining a client's abdomen, but it is not a reliable way to assess for resumption
of activity after surgery. - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse is assessing an alert client
who had abdominal surgery yesterday. What method provides the most accurate
data about resumption of peristalsis in the client?
Notify the provider about this finding immediately.
The nurse needs to immediately notify the health care provider because a bulging,
pulsating mass may indicate an abdominal aortic aneurysm requiring emergency
actions. Palpating the abdomen or even touching the abdomen with a
stethoscope may cause this to rupture, which would be a life-threatening
emergency. Because this is a potential life-threatening situation, questioning the
client about stool habits is not appropriate. - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse is
assessing a client who comes to the emergency department with acute abdominal
pain. The nurse notes a bulging, pulsating mass when inspecting the abdomen.
Which action by the nurse is correct?
,"Begin a clear liquid diet at least 24 hours before the test."
The nurse tells the client to be on a clear liquid diet for at least 24 hours to
cleanse the bowel before a colonoscopy. The client must be NPO (except for
water) 4 to 6 hours before a colonoscopy, not 12 hours. Also, the client needs to
avoid aspirin, anticoagulants, and antiplatelet drugs for several days before the
procedure. Diabetic clients need to check with their health care provider about
drug therapy requirements on the day of the test because they are NPO. The
client would not give him/herself a tap water enema. Clients must not take all
currently prescribed medications without first checking with their doctor. -
CORRECT ANSWER A client is scheduled for a colonoscopy. What does the nurse
tell the client to do before the procedure is performed?
Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
The assessment technique proceeds as inspection, auscultation, percussion,
palpation. This sequence is different from that used for other body systems. It is
used so that palpation and percussion do not increase intestinal activity and
bowel sounds. Nurse generalists may perform inspection, auscultation, and light
palpation; percussion and deep palpation may be done by advanced practice
nurses. Inspection must be the first assessment technique. Options beginning with
auscultation, palpation, or percussion are incorrect. - CORRECT ANSWER The
nurse practitioner is performing an abdominal assessment on a newly admitted
client. In which order should the nurse proceed with assessment technique?
Intestinal obstruction
, The nurse would suspect an intestinal obstruction related to peristaltic
movements. Peristaltic movements are rarely seen except in thin clients. This
needs to be reported to the Cacatua diarrhea does not cause visible peristaltic
movements. Aortic aneurysm may cause a bulging, pulsatile mass. Pancreatitis is
characterized by severe pain. - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse is assessing a client
who has come to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain. The
client is very thin and the nurse observes visible peristaltic movements when
inspecting the abdomen. What does the nurse suspect?
Examines the RUQ of the abdomen last following all other assessment techniques.
If the client reports pain in the RUQ, the nurse would examine this area last in the
examination sequence. This sequence prevents the client from tensing abdominal
muscles because of the pain, which would make the examination difficult. The
sequence for examining the abdomen is inspection, auscultation, percussion, and
then palpation. This sequence prevents the increase in intestinal activity and
bowel sounds caused by palpation and percussion. The client would be positioned
supine with the knees bent, while keeping the arms at the sides to prevent tensing
of the abdominal muscles. If a bulging, pulsating mass is present during
assessment of the abdomen, do not touch the area because the client may have
an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a life-threatening problem. Notify the health care
provider of this finding immediately! - CORRECT ANSWER A client is admitted to
the hospital with severe right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain. Which
assessment technique does the nurse use for this client?
A 40-year-old who needs laxatives administered and effectiveness monitored
before a colonoscopy
