FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-surgical
Nursing- Chapter 38, 39, 40, 41, 43,44 Exam Practice
Questions and Answers
Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a colonoscopy and whose preparation will include
polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage prior to the procedure. The presence of what health problem
would contraindicate the use of this form of bowel preparation?
A. Inflammatory bowel disease
B. Intestinal polyps
C. Diverticulitis
D. Colon cancer - Ans:✔✔-A
Page 1/265
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Rationale: The use of a lavage solution is contraindicated in clients with intestinal obstruction or
inflammatory bowel disease. It can safely be used with clients who have polyps, colon cancer, or
diverticulitis.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1219
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Nursing Process BLM: Cognitive Level: Understand
Multiple Choice
2. A nurse is promoting increased protein intake to enhance a client's wound healing. What is the
enzyme that will initiate the digestion of the protein that the client consumes?
A. Pepsin
B. Intrinsic factor
C. Lipase
D. Amylase - Ans:✔✔-A
Page 2/265
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Rationale: The enzyme that initiates the digestion of protein is pepsin. Intrinsic factor combines with
vitamin B12 for absorption by the ileum. Lipase aids in the digestion of fats and amylase aids in the
digestion of starch.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1210
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Nursing Process BLM: Cognitive Level: Understand
Multiple Choice
3. A client has been brought to the emergency department with abdominal pain and is subsequently
diagnosed with appendicitis. The client is scheduled for an appendectomy but questions the nurse about
how a person's health is affected by the absence of the appendix. How should the nurse best respond?
A. "Your appendix doesn't play a major role in health, so you won't notice any difference after your
recovery from surgery."
Page 3/265
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
B. "The surgeon will encourage you to limit your fat intake for a few weeks after the surgery, but your
body will then begin to compensate."
C. "Your body will absorb slightly fewer nutrients from the food you eat, but you won't be aware of this."
D. "Your small intestine will adapt over time to the absence of your appendix." - Ans:✔✔-A
Rationale: The appendix is an appendage of the cecum (not the small intestine) that has little or no
physiologic function. Its absence does not affect digestion or absorption.
PTS: 1 REF: p. 1209
NAT: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
TOP: Chapter 38: Assessment of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Function
KEY: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning BLM: Cognitive Level: Apply
Multiple Choice
4. An adult client is scheduled for an upper GI series that will use a barium swallow. What teaching
should the nurse include when the client has completed the test?
Page 4/265