1|Page
NUR 254 Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 4 Practice
Assessment||Verified Exam!!||, Galen College of
Nursing, 2026/2027 – 50 Questions with Verified
Solutions||Newest Exam!!
What is Peritonitis characterized by? - Answer-The
inflammation of the peritoneum. Board like abdomen,
ascites (distended stomach), severe abdominal pain,
hypoactive bowel sounds, tachypnea and tachycardia.
Treatments would be IV fluids, NG suction, pain meds,
ensure patent airway. Surgical would be to repair cause,
would may need to be left open. Frequent vital checks,
strict sterile techniques, semi-fowlers.
What is the preferred diagnostic test to differentiate
between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease? - Answer-
X-Ray Examination with barium enema. The magnetic
resonance enterography helps to assess the degree of the
inflammation.
What medications would a patient with Ulcerative Colitis
take for flare-ups? - Answer-Glucocorticoids such as
prednisone and prednisolone. These drugs will help
reduce inflammation.
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What is the nurse's best action when assessment of a
client 2 hours after abdominal surgery reveals hypoactive
bowel sounds? - Answer-Document the finding and
continue to monitor. Post-op abdominal surgery commonly
provides hypoactive or absent bowel sounds. The most
reliable way of knowing that peristalsis has returned is
when the client passes flatus or stool. After surgery this
may take a few hours. The best action is to document the
finding and continue to monitor for flatus or stool.
What type of bowel sounds will the nurse expect to
auscultate when a client reports having diarrhea for the
past two days? - Answer-Increased loud and gurgling
sounds (borborygmus). These sounds result from
increased motility of the bowel. These sounds are usually
heard when a client has diarrhea, gastroenteritis, or a
complete intestinal obstruction (the sounds will be heard
above the obstruction).
For which abnormal laboratory findings will the nurse
monitor when providing care for a client with acute
pancreatitis? - Answer-Increased serum lipase and
increased serum amylase. Acute Pancreatitis is serious
inflammation of the pancreas characterized by a sudden
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onset of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Serum
levels begin to elevate within 24 hours of onset and
remain elevated for up to 5 days.
What increased lab values would you expect to see with
liver disease? - Answer-Increased prothrombin time,
Increased unconjugated bilirubin, increased aspartate
transaminase, increased serum ammonia.
Which clinical findings in a patient indicate ulcerative
colitis? - Answer-Presence of blood and mucus in the
stool.
Which clinical findings in a patient indicate Crohn's
disease? - Answer-Strictures, deep ulcerations, thickened
bowel walls, and inflammation of the ileum and colon.
These put the patient at risk for developing bowel fistulas.
Which physiological change is seen in a patient with
ulcerative colitis?
A. Increase in hemoglobin levels
B. Hyperalbuminemia
C. Leukocytosis
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D. Hyperkalemia - Answer-C. Leukocytosis - The increase
in WBC is due to the inflammatory conditions that
Ulcerative Colitis leads to.
What is gastroenteritis an inflammation of? - Answer-The
GI tract. This usually self-resolves and causes the patient
to have diarrhea and stomach cramping.
What is Crohn's disease characterized by? - Answer-
Chronic inflammation of the entire GI tract. "From Gum to
Bum!"
Ulcerations, Fissures,
Fistulas.
What is ulcerative colitis characterized by? - Answer-
Inflammation limited to the large intestine onward. It can
often include the rectum and rectosigmoid colon.
What instructions will the nurse provide to a client with a
GI problem who is scheduled for an abdominal x-ray? -
Answer-Wear a hospital gown and remove any jewelry or
belts. In preparation for the x-ray jewelry and belts should
be removed as they may interfere with the x-ray.
NUR 254 Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 4 Practice
Assessment||Verified Exam!!||, Galen College of
Nursing, 2026/2027 – 50 Questions with Verified
Solutions||Newest Exam!!
What is Peritonitis characterized by? - Answer-The
inflammation of the peritoneum. Board like abdomen,
ascites (distended stomach), severe abdominal pain,
hypoactive bowel sounds, tachypnea and tachycardia.
Treatments would be IV fluids, NG suction, pain meds,
ensure patent airway. Surgical would be to repair cause,
would may need to be left open. Frequent vital checks,
strict sterile techniques, semi-fowlers.
What is the preferred diagnostic test to differentiate
between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease? - Answer-
X-Ray Examination with barium enema. The magnetic
resonance enterography helps to assess the degree of the
inflammation.
What medications would a patient with Ulcerative Colitis
take for flare-ups? - Answer-Glucocorticoids such as
prednisone and prednisolone. These drugs will help
reduce inflammation.
,2|Page
What is the nurse's best action when assessment of a
client 2 hours after abdominal surgery reveals hypoactive
bowel sounds? - Answer-Document the finding and
continue to monitor. Post-op abdominal surgery commonly
provides hypoactive or absent bowel sounds. The most
reliable way of knowing that peristalsis has returned is
when the client passes flatus or stool. After surgery this
may take a few hours. The best action is to document the
finding and continue to monitor for flatus or stool.
What type of bowel sounds will the nurse expect to
auscultate when a client reports having diarrhea for the
past two days? - Answer-Increased loud and gurgling
sounds (borborygmus). These sounds result from
increased motility of the bowel. These sounds are usually
heard when a client has diarrhea, gastroenteritis, or a
complete intestinal obstruction (the sounds will be heard
above the obstruction).
For which abnormal laboratory findings will the nurse
monitor when providing care for a client with acute
pancreatitis? - Answer-Increased serum lipase and
increased serum amylase. Acute Pancreatitis is serious
inflammation of the pancreas characterized by a sudden
,3|Page
onset of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Serum
levels begin to elevate within 24 hours of onset and
remain elevated for up to 5 days.
What increased lab values would you expect to see with
liver disease? - Answer-Increased prothrombin time,
Increased unconjugated bilirubin, increased aspartate
transaminase, increased serum ammonia.
Which clinical findings in a patient indicate ulcerative
colitis? - Answer-Presence of blood and mucus in the
stool.
Which clinical findings in a patient indicate Crohn's
disease? - Answer-Strictures, deep ulcerations, thickened
bowel walls, and inflammation of the ileum and colon.
These put the patient at risk for developing bowel fistulas.
Which physiological change is seen in a patient with
ulcerative colitis?
A. Increase in hemoglobin levels
B. Hyperalbuminemia
C. Leukocytosis
, 4|Page
D. Hyperkalemia - Answer-C. Leukocytosis - The increase
in WBC is due to the inflammatory conditions that
Ulcerative Colitis leads to.
What is gastroenteritis an inflammation of? - Answer-The
GI tract. This usually self-resolves and causes the patient
to have diarrhea and stomach cramping.
What is Crohn's disease characterized by? - Answer-
Chronic inflammation of the entire GI tract. "From Gum to
Bum!"
Ulcerations, Fissures,
Fistulas.
What is ulcerative colitis characterized by? - Answer-
Inflammation limited to the large intestine onward. It can
often include the rectum and rectosigmoid colon.
What instructions will the nurse provide to a client with a
GI problem who is scheduled for an abdominal x-ray? -
Answer-Wear a hospital gown and remove any jewelry or
belts. In preparation for the x-ray jewelry and belts should
be removed as they may interfere with the x-ray.
