Chapter 38: Upper Digestive Tract Disorders
Linton: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A home health nurse is assigned to follow-up on a patient recently diagnosed with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Which primary symptom should the nurse take
into consideration when updating the nursing interventions on this patient’s care plan?
a. Nausea
b. Vomiting
c. Anorexia
d. Heartburn
ANS: D
The onset of GERD symptoms may be sudden or gradual: Patients typically report a
painful burning sensation that moves up and down, commonly occurs after meals, and
is relieved by antacids: Acid regurgitation, intermittent dysphagia, and belching are
also common:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 728 OBJ: 1
TOP: GERD KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
2. A patient experiencing nausea reports to the nurse that she adds ginger root to her
morning tea to calm her stomach: Which classification of medication in the patient
history alerts the nurse to provide further education?
a. Antidepressants
b. Proton pump inhibitors
c. Anticoagulants
d. Narcotics
ANS: C
Ginger root is effective in calming upset stomach, reducing flatulence, and preventing
, motion sickness: It enhances the action of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p: 728 OBJ: 1
TOP: Complementary and Alternative Therapies
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
3. When assessing the tongue of patient in the outpatient clinic, a nurse observes bluish-
white lesions on the mucous membranes: When reviewing the patient history, the nurse
notes the patient has been on long-term antibiotic therapy for chronic prostatitis: What
should the nurse suspect?
a. Thrush
b. Aphthous stomatitis
c. Herpes simplex type I
d. Oral cancer
ANS: A
Candida albicans, a yeast-like fungus, causes the oral condition known as thrush or
candidiasis: Bluish-white lesions can be seen on the mucous membranes of the oral
cavity: Patients at high risk for candidiasis include those on steroids or long-term
antibiotic therapy:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 721 OBJ: 1
TOP: Oral Infections KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
4. When assisting with the admission of a new resident to a long-term care facility, a nurse
notes a current history of peptic ulcer disease: What type of pain should the nurse expect
the resident to describe?
a. Sharp
b. Dull
c. Burning
d. Stabbing
ANS: C
Some patients with gastric ulcers have no pain, but others experience a burning or
Linton: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A home health nurse is assigned to follow-up on a patient recently diagnosed with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Which primary symptom should the nurse take
into consideration when updating the nursing interventions on this patient’s care plan?
a. Nausea
b. Vomiting
c. Anorexia
d. Heartburn
ANS: D
The onset of GERD symptoms may be sudden or gradual: Patients typically report a
painful burning sensation that moves up and down, commonly occurs after meals, and
is relieved by antacids: Acid regurgitation, intermittent dysphagia, and belching are
also common:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 728 OBJ: 1
TOP: GERD KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
2. A patient experiencing nausea reports to the nurse that she adds ginger root to her
morning tea to calm her stomach: Which classification of medication in the patient
history alerts the nurse to provide further education?
a. Antidepressants
b. Proton pump inhibitors
c. Anticoagulants
d. Narcotics
ANS: C
Ginger root is effective in calming upset stomach, reducing flatulence, and preventing
, motion sickness: It enhances the action of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p: 728 OBJ: 1
TOP: Complementary and Alternative Therapies
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
3. When assessing the tongue of patient in the outpatient clinic, a nurse observes bluish-
white lesions on the mucous membranes: When reviewing the patient history, the nurse
notes the patient has been on long-term antibiotic therapy for chronic prostatitis: What
should the nurse suspect?
a. Thrush
b. Aphthous stomatitis
c. Herpes simplex type I
d. Oral cancer
ANS: A
Candida albicans, a yeast-like fungus, causes the oral condition known as thrush or
candidiasis: Bluish-white lesions can be seen on the mucous membranes of the oral
cavity: Patients at high risk for candidiasis include those on steroids or long-term
antibiotic therapy:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 721 OBJ: 1
TOP: Oral Infections KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
4. When assisting with the admission of a new resident to a long-term care facility, a nurse
notes a current history of peptic ulcer disease: What type of pain should the nurse expect
the resident to describe?
a. Sharp
b. Dull
c. Burning
d. Stabbing
ANS: C
Some patients with gastric ulcers have no pain, but others experience a burning or
