ATI Targeted Med Surg; GI: Medical-Surgical Adult
Medical Surgical Test Bank_ Answered/Elaborated
2023/2024.
a nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has a new prescription for medications to treat
peptic ulcer disease. The nurse should identify that which of the following medications inhibits gastric
acid secretion?
A. Calcium carbonate
B. Famotidine
C. Aluminum hydroxide
D. Sucralfate
B. Famotidine
The nurse should inform the client that famotidine is an H2-receptor antagonist that is prescribed for the
treatment of peptic ulcer disease to inhibit the secretion of gastric acid.
A nurse is providing dietary teaching for a client who is postoperative following a gastrectomy. Which of
the following foods should the nurse encourage the client to include in her diet to prevent dumping
syndrome?
A. Ice cream
B. Eggs
C. Grape juice
D. Honey
B. Eggs
The nurse should instruct the client to increase intake of protein-containing foods, such as eggs, to
decrease the risk for manifestations of dumping syndrome. The client should eat some form of protein at
each meal.
A nurse is assessing a client who has Crohn's disease. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
A. Fatty diarrheal stools
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Weight gain
D. Sharp epigastric pain
A Fatty diarrheal stools
Steatorrhea, or fatty stool, is an expected finding in a client who has Crohn's disease.
A nurse is assessing a client immediately following a paracentesis for the treatment of ascites. Which of
the following findings indicates the procedure was effective?
A. Presence of a fluid wave
B. Increased heart rate
C. Equal pre and postprocedure weights
D. Decreased SOB
, ATI Targeted Med Surg; GI: Medical-Surgical Adult
Medical Surgical Test Bank_ Answered/Elaborated
2023/2024.
D. Decreased SOB
Increased abdominal fluid can limit the expansion of the diaphragm and prevent the client from taking a
deep breath. Once excess peritoneal fluid is removed, the diaphragm will expand more freely. The nurse
should identify this finding as an indicator the procedure was effective.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client following an ileostomy. The nurse should instruct the
client to report which of the following findings to the provider?
A. Intolerance to high-fiber foods
B. Liquid ileostomy output
C. Dark purple stoma
D. Sensation of burning during bowel elimination
C. Dark purple stoma
The nurse should instruct the client to contact the provider if the stoma is a dark purple color, which is an
indication of bowel ischemia.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has a new colostomy and is concerned about
flatus and odor. Which of the following foods should the nurse recommend to the client?
A. Eggs
B. Fish.
C. Yogurt
D. Broccoli
C. Yogurt
The nurse should recommend yogurt, cracker and toast, which can prevent flatus and odor.
A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has cirrhosis and a new prescription for lactulose. The
nurse should include which of the following instructions in the teaching.
A. Notify provider if bloating occurs
B. Expect to have 2-3 soft stools per day
C. Restrict carbohydrates in the diet
D. Limit oral fluid intake to 1000 mL per day of clear fluids
B. Expect to have 2-3 soft stools per day
The purpose of administering lactulose is to promote excretion of ammonia in stool. the nurse should
instruct the client to take the medication every day and inform the client that 2-3 bowel movements every
day is the treatment goal.
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has cirrhosis and ascites. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include the plan?
A. Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
B. Check mental status once daily
C. Provide a daily intake of 4g of sodium for the client
D. Assess the client's breath sounds every 12 hr
, ATI Targeted Med Surg; GI: Medical-Surgical Adult
Medical Surgical Test Bank_ Answered/Elaborated
2023/2024.
A. Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
The nurse should measure the client's abdominal girth and weigh the client daily to monitor the amount of
fluid accumulation in the abdomen and the effectiveness of treatment measures.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a client who has colorectal cancer. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Negative fecal occult blood test
B. Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
C. Hematocrit 43%
D. Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL
D. Hemoglobin 9.1g/dL
A hemoglobin level of 9.1 g/dL is below the expected reference range. Decreased hemoglobin is an
expected finding in a client who has colorectal cancer due to occult intestinal bleeding.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has peptic ulcer disease and a new famotidine.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should take this medication at bedtime."
B. "I should expect this medication to discolor my stools."
C. "I will drink iced tea with my meals and snacks."
D. "I will monitor my blood glucose level regularly while taking this medication."
A. "I should take this medication at bedtime."
The nurse should instruct the client to take the medication at bedtime to inhibit the action of histamine at
the H2-receptor site in the stomach.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has hepatic cirrhosis. Which of the following
laboratory findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Albumin 4.0 g/dL
B. INR 1.0
C. Direct bilirubin 0.5 mg/dL
D. Ammonia 180 mcg/dL
D. Ammonia 180 mcg/dL
An ammonia level of 180 mcg/dL is above the expected reference range of 10 to 80 mcg/dL. The nurse
should report an increased ammonia level because it can indicate portal-systemic encephalopathy.
A nurse is caring for a client who has ulcerative colitis. The client has had several exacerbations over the
past 3 yr. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the plan of care tom inimize risk
of further exacerbations? (Select all that apply)
A. Use progressive relaxation techniques.
B. Increase dietary fiber intake.
C. Drink two 240 mL (8 oz) glasses of milk per day.
D. Arrange activities to allow for daily rest periods.
E. Restrict intake of carbonated beverages.
, ATI Targeted Med Surg; GI: Medical-Surgical Adult
Medical Surgical Test Bank_ Answered/Elaborated
2023/2024.
A, D, E
Use progressive relaxation techniques is correct. Progressive relaxation techniques, a form of
biofeedback, are recommended to help the client minimize stress, which can precipitate an exacerbation.
Arrange activities to allow for daily rest periods is correct. Daily rest periods decrease stress and reduce
intestinal motility.
Restrict intake of carbonated beverages is correct. The client should avoid gastrointestinal stimulants,
such as carbonated beverages, nuts, peppers, and smoking.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has acute pancreatitis. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Blood glucose 110 mg/dL
B. Increased serum amylase
C. WBC 9,000/mm3
D. Decreased bilirubin
B. Increased serum amylase
Serum amylase levels are increased in a client who has acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic cell injury.
A nurse is providing dietary teaching for a client who has chronic pancreatitis. Which of the following
food selections by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. 8 oz whole milk
B. One slice of beef bologna
C. 1 oz cheddar cheese
D. 1 cup sliced banana
D.1 cup sliced banana
Foods that are high in fat can cause diarrhea for clients who have pancreatitis. One cup of sliced
banana, which contains 0.49 g of fat, is a low-fat food option. Clients who have pancreatitis should
consume a high-protein and low-fat diet with an adequate amount of carbohydrates and calories.
A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following a gastrectomy. The nurse should identify
which of the following findings as an indication of abdominal distention?
A. Hiccups
B. Hypertension
C. Bradycardia
D. Chest pain
Hiccups
Following surgery, hiccups can be caused by irritation of the phrenic nerve due to abdominal distension.
If the hiccups are intractable, the nurse should anticipate a prescription for chlorpromazine because
persistent hiccups are distressful to the client and can lead to complications, such as vomiting.
A nurse is providing dietary teaching for a client who has a new diagnosis of celiac disease. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
Medical Surgical Test Bank_ Answered/Elaborated
2023/2024.
a nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has a new prescription for medications to treat
peptic ulcer disease. The nurse should identify that which of the following medications inhibits gastric
acid secretion?
A. Calcium carbonate
B. Famotidine
C. Aluminum hydroxide
D. Sucralfate
B. Famotidine
The nurse should inform the client that famotidine is an H2-receptor antagonist that is prescribed for the
treatment of peptic ulcer disease to inhibit the secretion of gastric acid.
A nurse is providing dietary teaching for a client who is postoperative following a gastrectomy. Which of
the following foods should the nurse encourage the client to include in her diet to prevent dumping
syndrome?
A. Ice cream
B. Eggs
C. Grape juice
D. Honey
B. Eggs
The nurse should instruct the client to increase intake of protein-containing foods, such as eggs, to
decrease the risk for manifestations of dumping syndrome. The client should eat some form of protein at
each meal.
A nurse is assessing a client who has Crohn's disease. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
A. Fatty diarrheal stools
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Weight gain
D. Sharp epigastric pain
A Fatty diarrheal stools
Steatorrhea, or fatty stool, is an expected finding in a client who has Crohn's disease.
A nurse is assessing a client immediately following a paracentesis for the treatment of ascites. Which of
the following findings indicates the procedure was effective?
A. Presence of a fluid wave
B. Increased heart rate
C. Equal pre and postprocedure weights
D. Decreased SOB
, ATI Targeted Med Surg; GI: Medical-Surgical Adult
Medical Surgical Test Bank_ Answered/Elaborated
2023/2024.
D. Decreased SOB
Increased abdominal fluid can limit the expansion of the diaphragm and prevent the client from taking a
deep breath. Once excess peritoneal fluid is removed, the diaphragm will expand more freely. The nurse
should identify this finding as an indicator the procedure was effective.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client following an ileostomy. The nurse should instruct the
client to report which of the following findings to the provider?
A. Intolerance to high-fiber foods
B. Liquid ileostomy output
C. Dark purple stoma
D. Sensation of burning during bowel elimination
C. Dark purple stoma
The nurse should instruct the client to contact the provider if the stoma is a dark purple color, which is an
indication of bowel ischemia.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has a new colostomy and is concerned about
flatus and odor. Which of the following foods should the nurse recommend to the client?
A. Eggs
B. Fish.
C. Yogurt
D. Broccoli
C. Yogurt
The nurse should recommend yogurt, cracker and toast, which can prevent flatus and odor.
A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has cirrhosis and a new prescription for lactulose. The
nurse should include which of the following instructions in the teaching.
A. Notify provider if bloating occurs
B. Expect to have 2-3 soft stools per day
C. Restrict carbohydrates in the diet
D. Limit oral fluid intake to 1000 mL per day of clear fluids
B. Expect to have 2-3 soft stools per day
The purpose of administering lactulose is to promote excretion of ammonia in stool. the nurse should
instruct the client to take the medication every day and inform the client that 2-3 bowel movements every
day is the treatment goal.
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has cirrhosis and ascites. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include the plan?
A. Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
B. Check mental status once daily
C. Provide a daily intake of 4g of sodium for the client
D. Assess the client's breath sounds every 12 hr
, ATI Targeted Med Surg; GI: Medical-Surgical Adult
Medical Surgical Test Bank_ Answered/Elaborated
2023/2024.
A. Measure the client's abdominal girth daily
The nurse should measure the client's abdominal girth and weigh the client daily to monitor the amount of
fluid accumulation in the abdomen and the effectiveness of treatment measures.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a client who has colorectal cancer. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Negative fecal occult blood test
B. Decreased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level
C. Hematocrit 43%
D. Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL
D. Hemoglobin 9.1g/dL
A hemoglobin level of 9.1 g/dL is below the expected reference range. Decreased hemoglobin is an
expected finding in a client who has colorectal cancer due to occult intestinal bleeding.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has peptic ulcer disease and a new famotidine.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should take this medication at bedtime."
B. "I should expect this medication to discolor my stools."
C. "I will drink iced tea with my meals and snacks."
D. "I will monitor my blood glucose level regularly while taking this medication."
A. "I should take this medication at bedtime."
The nurse should instruct the client to take the medication at bedtime to inhibit the action of histamine at
the H2-receptor site in the stomach.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has hepatic cirrhosis. Which of the following
laboratory findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Albumin 4.0 g/dL
B. INR 1.0
C. Direct bilirubin 0.5 mg/dL
D. Ammonia 180 mcg/dL
D. Ammonia 180 mcg/dL
An ammonia level of 180 mcg/dL is above the expected reference range of 10 to 80 mcg/dL. The nurse
should report an increased ammonia level because it can indicate portal-systemic encephalopathy.
A nurse is caring for a client who has ulcerative colitis. The client has had several exacerbations over the
past 3 yr. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the plan of care tom inimize risk
of further exacerbations? (Select all that apply)
A. Use progressive relaxation techniques.
B. Increase dietary fiber intake.
C. Drink two 240 mL (8 oz) glasses of milk per day.
D. Arrange activities to allow for daily rest periods.
E. Restrict intake of carbonated beverages.
, ATI Targeted Med Surg; GI: Medical-Surgical Adult
Medical Surgical Test Bank_ Answered/Elaborated
2023/2024.
A, D, E
Use progressive relaxation techniques is correct. Progressive relaxation techniques, a form of
biofeedback, are recommended to help the client minimize stress, which can precipitate an exacerbation.
Arrange activities to allow for daily rest periods is correct. Daily rest periods decrease stress and reduce
intestinal motility.
Restrict intake of carbonated beverages is correct. The client should avoid gastrointestinal stimulants,
such as carbonated beverages, nuts, peppers, and smoking.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has acute pancreatitis. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Blood glucose 110 mg/dL
B. Increased serum amylase
C. WBC 9,000/mm3
D. Decreased bilirubin
B. Increased serum amylase
Serum amylase levels are increased in a client who has acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic cell injury.
A nurse is providing dietary teaching for a client who has chronic pancreatitis. Which of the following
food selections by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. 8 oz whole milk
B. One slice of beef bologna
C. 1 oz cheddar cheese
D. 1 cup sliced banana
D.1 cup sliced banana
Foods that are high in fat can cause diarrhea for clients who have pancreatitis. One cup of sliced
banana, which contains 0.49 g of fat, is a low-fat food option. Clients who have pancreatitis should
consume a high-protein and low-fat diet with an adequate amount of carbohydrates and calories.
A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following a gastrectomy. The nurse should identify
which of the following findings as an indication of abdominal distention?
A. Hiccups
B. Hypertension
C. Bradycardia
D. Chest pain
Hiccups
Following surgery, hiccups can be caused by irritation of the phrenic nerve due to abdominal distension.
If the hiccups are intractable, the nurse should anticipate a prescription for chlorpromazine because
persistent hiccups are distressful to the client and can lead to complications, such as vomiting.
A nurse is providing dietary teaching for a client who has a new diagnosis of celiac disease. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
