Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Practice Questions (Test #2, fall 2026)
Which sign/symptom should the nurse expect to find in a client diagnosed with
ulcerative colitis?
1. Twenty bloody stools a day.
2. Oral temperature of 102°F.
3. Hard, rigid abdomen.
4. Urinary stress incontinence - answer1. The colon is ulcerated and unable to absorb
water, resulting in bloody diarrhea. Ten (10) to 20 bloody diarrhea stools is the most
common symptom of ulcerative colitis.
2. Inflammation usually causes an elevated temperature but is not expected in the client
with ulcerative colitis.
3. A hard, rigid abdomen indicates peritonitis, which is a complication of ulcerative colitis
but not an expected symptom.
4. Stress incontinence is not a symptom of colitis.
TEST-TAKING HINT: If the test taker is not sure of the answer, the test taker should
use knowledge of anatomy and physiology to help identify the correct answer. The
colon is responsible for absorbing water, and if the colon can't do its job, then water will
not be absorbed, causing diarrhea (option "1"). Colitis is inflammation of the colon;
therefore, option "4" referring to the urinary system can be eliminated.
The client with type 2 diabetes is prescribed prednisone, a steroid, for an acute
exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Which intervention should the nurse
discuss with the client?
1. Take this medication on an empty stomach.
2. Notify the HCP if experiencing a moon face.
3. Take the steroid medication as prescribed.
4. Notify the HCP if the blood glucose is over 160 - answer1. Steroids can cause
erosion of the stomach and should be taken with food.
2. A moon face is an expected side effect of steroids.
3. This medication must be tapered off to prevent adrenal insufficiency; therefore, the
client must take this medication as prescribed.
, 4. Steroids may increase the client's blood glucose, but diabetic medication regimens
are usually not altered for the short period of time the client with an acute exacerbation
is prescribed steroids.
TEST-TAKING HINT: The test taker should know few medications must be taken on an
empty stomach, which would cause option "1" to be eliminated. All medications should
be taken as prescribed—don't think the answer is too easy
The client diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease has a serum potassium level of
3.4 mEq/L. Which action should the nurse implement first?
1. Notify the health-care provider (HCP).
2. Assess the client for muscle weakness.
3. Request telemetry for the client.
4. Prepare to administer potassium IV. - answer1. The HCP should be notified so
potassium supplements can be ordered, but this is not the first intervention.
2. Muscle weakness may be a sign of hypokalemia; hypokalemia can lead to cardiac
dysrhythmias and can be life threatening. Assessment is priority for a potassium level
just below normal level, which is 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L.
3. Hypokalemia can lead to cardiac dysrhythmias; therefore, requesting telemetry is
appropriate, but it is not the first intervention.
4. The client will need potassium to correct the hypokalemia, but it is not the first
intervention.
TEST-TAKING HINT: When the question asks which action should be implemented
first, remember assessment is the first step in the nursing process. If the answer option
addressing assessment is appropriate for the situation in the question, then the test
taker should select it as the correct answer
The client is diagnosed with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Which
intervention should the nurse implement?
1. Provide a low-residue diet.
2. Rest the client's bowel.
3. Assess vital signs daily.
4. Administer antacids orally. - answer1. The client's bowel should be placed on rest
and no foods or fluids should be introduced into the bowel.
2. Whenever a client has an acute exacerbation of a gastrointestinal disorder, the first
intervention is to place the bowel on rest. The client should be NPO with intravenous
fluids to prevent dehydration.
3. The vital signs must be taken more often than daily in a client who is having an acute
exacerbation of ulcerative colitis.
Practice Questions (Test #2, fall 2026)
Which sign/symptom should the nurse expect to find in a client diagnosed with
ulcerative colitis?
1. Twenty bloody stools a day.
2. Oral temperature of 102°F.
3. Hard, rigid abdomen.
4. Urinary stress incontinence - answer1. The colon is ulcerated and unable to absorb
water, resulting in bloody diarrhea. Ten (10) to 20 bloody diarrhea stools is the most
common symptom of ulcerative colitis.
2. Inflammation usually causes an elevated temperature but is not expected in the client
with ulcerative colitis.
3. A hard, rigid abdomen indicates peritonitis, which is a complication of ulcerative colitis
but not an expected symptom.
4. Stress incontinence is not a symptom of colitis.
TEST-TAKING HINT: If the test taker is not sure of the answer, the test taker should
use knowledge of anatomy and physiology to help identify the correct answer. The
colon is responsible for absorbing water, and if the colon can't do its job, then water will
not be absorbed, causing diarrhea (option "1"). Colitis is inflammation of the colon;
therefore, option "4" referring to the urinary system can be eliminated.
The client with type 2 diabetes is prescribed prednisone, a steroid, for an acute
exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Which intervention should the nurse
discuss with the client?
1. Take this medication on an empty stomach.
2. Notify the HCP if experiencing a moon face.
3. Take the steroid medication as prescribed.
4. Notify the HCP if the blood glucose is over 160 - answer1. Steroids can cause
erosion of the stomach and should be taken with food.
2. A moon face is an expected side effect of steroids.
3. This medication must be tapered off to prevent adrenal insufficiency; therefore, the
client must take this medication as prescribed.
, 4. Steroids may increase the client's blood glucose, but diabetic medication regimens
are usually not altered for the short period of time the client with an acute exacerbation
is prescribed steroids.
TEST-TAKING HINT: The test taker should know few medications must be taken on an
empty stomach, which would cause option "1" to be eliminated. All medications should
be taken as prescribed—don't think the answer is too easy
The client diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease has a serum potassium level of
3.4 mEq/L. Which action should the nurse implement first?
1. Notify the health-care provider (HCP).
2. Assess the client for muscle weakness.
3. Request telemetry for the client.
4. Prepare to administer potassium IV. - answer1. The HCP should be notified so
potassium supplements can be ordered, but this is not the first intervention.
2. Muscle weakness may be a sign of hypokalemia; hypokalemia can lead to cardiac
dysrhythmias and can be life threatening. Assessment is priority for a potassium level
just below normal level, which is 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L.
3. Hypokalemia can lead to cardiac dysrhythmias; therefore, requesting telemetry is
appropriate, but it is not the first intervention.
4. The client will need potassium to correct the hypokalemia, but it is not the first
intervention.
TEST-TAKING HINT: When the question asks which action should be implemented
first, remember assessment is the first step in the nursing process. If the answer option
addressing assessment is appropriate for the situation in the question, then the test
taker should select it as the correct answer
The client is diagnosed with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Which
intervention should the nurse implement?
1. Provide a low-residue diet.
2. Rest the client's bowel.
3. Assess vital signs daily.
4. Administer antacids orally. - answer1. The client's bowel should be placed on rest
and no foods or fluids should be introduced into the bowel.
2. Whenever a client has an acute exacerbation of a gastrointestinal disorder, the first
intervention is to place the bowel on rest. The client should be NPO with intravenous
fluids to prevent dehydration.
3. The vital signs must be taken more often than daily in a client who is having an acute
exacerbation of ulcerative colitis.
