GI and Neuro ATI practice questions ANSWER
KEY-1
, Detailed Answer Key
GI/Neuro Med Surg
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The pharmacy is delayed in
supplying the client’s next container of TPN. Which of the following fluids should the nurse infuse until the next
container arrives?
A. Dextrose 5% in water
Rationale: TPN contains high concentrations of certain nutrients. Infusing dextrose 5% in water
could cause rapid shifts in serum levels of some substances.
B. 0.9% sodium chloride
Rationale: TPN contains high concentrations of certain nutrients. Infusing 0.9% sodium
chloride could cause rapid shifts in serum levels of some substances.
C. Dextrose 10% in water
Rationale: TPN contains high concentrations of dextrose and proteins. To avoid hypoglycemia,
the nurse should infuse dextrose 10% or 20% in water until the next container of
TPN solution arrives.
D. Lactated Ringer’s solution
Rationale: TPN contains high concentrations of certain nutrients. Infusing lactated Ringer’s
solution could cause rapid shifts in serum levels of some substances.
2. A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has chronic pancreatitis. Which of the following
statements by the nurse is appropriate?
A. “You should decrease your caloric intake when abdominal pain is present.”
Rationale: Clients who have chronic pancreatitis are at risk for malnutrition and should
increase their caloric intake in order to maintain weight.
B. “You should increase your daily intake of protein.”
Rationale: Clients who have chronic pancreatitis should consume a diet that is high in protein.
C. “You should increase fat intake when experiencing loose stools.”
Rationale: Clients who have chronic pancreatitis should consume a low-fat diet to prevent
stimulation of the pancreas and steatorrhea.
D. “You should limit alcohol intake to 2-3 drinks per week.”
Rationale: Clients who have chronic pancreatitis should avoid alcohol intake to prevent
stimulation of the pancreas.
CAA_DetailedAnswerKey created 10/07/2015 page 1 of 53
, Detailed Answer Key
GI/Neuro Med Surg
3. A nurse monitors for increased intracranial pressure (ICP) on a client who has a leaking cerebral aneurysm. If
the client manifests increased intracranial pressure, which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
(Select all that apply)
A. Violent headache
B. Neck pain and stiffness
C. Slurred speech
D. Projectile vomiting
E. Rapid loss of consciousness
Rationale: Violent headache is correct. The client who manifests ICP should display a violent
headache
Neck pain and stiffness is incorrect. The client who manifests ICP should not
display neck pain and stiffness
Slurred speech is correct. The client who manifests ICP may display slurred
speech.
Projectile vomiting is correct. The client who manifests ICP may display sudden
onset of projectile vomiting.
Rapid loss of consciousness is correct. The client who manifests ICP may display a
sudden rapid loss of consciousness.
CAA_DetailedAnswerKey created 10/07/2015 page 2 of 53
, Detailed Answer Key
GI/Neuro Med Surg
4. A nurse is assessing an adult who has meningococcal meningitis. Which of the following is an appropriate
finding by the nurse?
A. Severe headache
Rationale: The nurse should find as a sign of meningococcal meningitis severe headache due
to meningeal inflammation.
B. Bradycardia
Rationale: The nurse should find as a sign of meningococcal meningitis tachycardia not
bradycardia.
C. Increased muscle tone
Rationale: The nurse should find as a sign of meningococcal meningitis decreased not
increased muscle tone.
D. Oriented to time, person, place
Rationale: The nurse should find as a sign of meningococcal meningitis disorientation not
orientation to time, person, and place.
5. A nurse admits a client who has a concussion for overnight observation. Alert and oriented on admission, the
client reports a headache along with neck pain and generalized muscle aches. The nurse knows that a
manifestation considered an early indication of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is
A. bradycardia.
Rationale: Alterations in vital signs, including increased systolic pressure, widening pulse
pressure and bradycardia may be later signs of increased ICP.
B. ipsilateral pupil dilation.
Rationale: Ipsilateral or bilateral pupil dilation occurs when increasing intracranial pressure
displaces the brain against the optic nerve, but pupil dilation is not an early sign of
increased ICP.
C. widening pulse pressure.
Rationale: Alterations in vital signs, including increased systolic pressure, widening pulse
pressure and bradycardia may be later signs of increased ICP.
D. lethargy.
Rationale: Increased intracranial pressure is a condition in which the pressure of the
cerebrospinal fluid or brain matter within the skull exceeds the upper limits for
normal. An early sign of increasing ICP is lethargy.
CAA_DetailedAnswerKey created 10/07/2015 page 3 of 53
KEY-1
, Detailed Answer Key
GI/Neuro Med Surg
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The pharmacy is delayed in
supplying the client’s next container of TPN. Which of the following fluids should the nurse infuse until the next
container arrives?
A. Dextrose 5% in water
Rationale: TPN contains high concentrations of certain nutrients. Infusing dextrose 5% in water
could cause rapid shifts in serum levels of some substances.
B. 0.9% sodium chloride
Rationale: TPN contains high concentrations of certain nutrients. Infusing 0.9% sodium
chloride could cause rapid shifts in serum levels of some substances.
C. Dextrose 10% in water
Rationale: TPN contains high concentrations of dextrose and proteins. To avoid hypoglycemia,
the nurse should infuse dextrose 10% or 20% in water until the next container of
TPN solution arrives.
D. Lactated Ringer’s solution
Rationale: TPN contains high concentrations of certain nutrients. Infusing lactated Ringer’s
solution could cause rapid shifts in serum levels of some substances.
2. A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has chronic pancreatitis. Which of the following
statements by the nurse is appropriate?
A. “You should decrease your caloric intake when abdominal pain is present.”
Rationale: Clients who have chronic pancreatitis are at risk for malnutrition and should
increase their caloric intake in order to maintain weight.
B. “You should increase your daily intake of protein.”
Rationale: Clients who have chronic pancreatitis should consume a diet that is high in protein.
C. “You should increase fat intake when experiencing loose stools.”
Rationale: Clients who have chronic pancreatitis should consume a low-fat diet to prevent
stimulation of the pancreas and steatorrhea.
D. “You should limit alcohol intake to 2-3 drinks per week.”
Rationale: Clients who have chronic pancreatitis should avoid alcohol intake to prevent
stimulation of the pancreas.
CAA_DetailedAnswerKey created 10/07/2015 page 1 of 53
, Detailed Answer Key
GI/Neuro Med Surg
3. A nurse monitors for increased intracranial pressure (ICP) on a client who has a leaking cerebral aneurysm. If
the client manifests increased intracranial pressure, which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
(Select all that apply)
A. Violent headache
B. Neck pain and stiffness
C. Slurred speech
D. Projectile vomiting
E. Rapid loss of consciousness
Rationale: Violent headache is correct. The client who manifests ICP should display a violent
headache
Neck pain and stiffness is incorrect. The client who manifests ICP should not
display neck pain and stiffness
Slurred speech is correct. The client who manifests ICP may display slurred
speech.
Projectile vomiting is correct. The client who manifests ICP may display sudden
onset of projectile vomiting.
Rapid loss of consciousness is correct. The client who manifests ICP may display a
sudden rapid loss of consciousness.
CAA_DetailedAnswerKey created 10/07/2015 page 2 of 53
, Detailed Answer Key
GI/Neuro Med Surg
4. A nurse is assessing an adult who has meningococcal meningitis. Which of the following is an appropriate
finding by the nurse?
A. Severe headache
Rationale: The nurse should find as a sign of meningococcal meningitis severe headache due
to meningeal inflammation.
B. Bradycardia
Rationale: The nurse should find as a sign of meningococcal meningitis tachycardia not
bradycardia.
C. Increased muscle tone
Rationale: The nurse should find as a sign of meningococcal meningitis decreased not
increased muscle tone.
D. Oriented to time, person, place
Rationale: The nurse should find as a sign of meningococcal meningitis disorientation not
orientation to time, person, and place.
5. A nurse admits a client who has a concussion for overnight observation. Alert and oriented on admission, the
client reports a headache along with neck pain and generalized muscle aches. The nurse knows that a
manifestation considered an early indication of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is
A. bradycardia.
Rationale: Alterations in vital signs, including increased systolic pressure, widening pulse
pressure and bradycardia may be later signs of increased ICP.
B. ipsilateral pupil dilation.
Rationale: Ipsilateral or bilateral pupil dilation occurs when increasing intracranial pressure
displaces the brain against the optic nerve, but pupil dilation is not an early sign of
increased ICP.
C. widening pulse pressure.
Rationale: Alterations in vital signs, including increased systolic pressure, widening pulse
pressure and bradycardia may be later signs of increased ICP.
D. lethargy.
Rationale: Increased intracranial pressure is a condition in which the pressure of the
cerebrospinal fluid or brain matter within the skull exceeds the upper limits for
normal. An early sign of increasing ICP is lethargy.
CAA_DetailedAnswerKey created 10/07/2015 page 3 of 53
