2025 UPDATE |MED-SURG GASTROINTESTINAL|
RECENT UPDATE | COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS |GET IT 100% ACCURATE!!
A nurse is caring for a client who has celiac disease. Which of the following foods should the
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nurse remove from the client's meal tray?
A. Wheat toast
B. Tapioca pudding
C. Hard-boiled egg
D. Mashed potatoes - (ANSWERS)A. Wheat toast
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by permanent intolerance to wheat,
barely, and rye. Wheat toast contains gluten and should be removed from the client's tray.
- Tapioca pudding, hard-boiled eggs, and mashed potatoes do not contain gluten.
A nurse is caring for a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Place the drainage bag on the client's abdomen when transferring from a bed to cart
B. Empty the drainage bag when it is half-full of urine
C. Rest the drainage bag on the floor when closing the drainage spigot during emptying
D. Disconnect the drainage bag when obtaining a urine specimen - (ANSWERS)B. Empty the
drainage bag when it is half-full of urine
The nurse should empty the drainage bag when half-full of urine. A drainage bag that is too full
can place tension on the catheter tubing, resulting in trauma to the urethra and urinary meatus.
- A: The nurse should always hang the drainage bag below the level of the client's bladder to
prevent back flow of the urine from the drainage bag and to maintain adequate drainage of the
bladder at all times.
- C: The nurse should maintain the drainage bag in a hanging position and verify that the
drainage spigot does not touch the floor when emptying to prevent contamination and maintain
asepsis.
- D: The nurse should obtain a urine specimen through the collection port in the drainage tubing
of the indwelling urinary catheter to prevent contamination and maintain asepsis.
A nurse is assessing a client who was admitted with a bowel obstruction. The client reports
severe abdominal pain. Which of the following findings indicates that a possible bowel
perforation has occurred?
A. Elevated blood pressure
B. Bowel sounds increased in frequency and pitch
C. Rigid abdomen
D. Emesis of undigested food - (ANSWERS)C. Rigid abdomen
,2025 UPDATE |MED-SURG GASTROINTESTINAL|
RECENT UPDATE | COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS |GET IT 100% ACCURATE!!
Abdominal tenderness and rigidity indicate a bowel perforation. As fluid escapes into the
!@#$$$$$$$$$$%
peritoneal cavity, a reduction in circulating blood volume occurs, lowering blood pressure.
- A: A client with a perforated bowel will not have an elevated blood pressure. However,
hypotension or shock can be present.
- B: Intestinal peristalsis increases in frequency and intensity as the bowel attempts to move
intestinal contents past the obstructed area. Bowel sounds are silent with a bowel perforation.
- D: Vomiting is frequent and copious with a small bowel obstruction. This does not indicate a
bowel perforation.
A nurse is caring for a child who had her spleen removed following a bicycle accident. The
child's parent asks the nurse about the role of the spleen in the body. The nurse should explain
that the spleen performs which of the following functions?
A. Maintains fluid balance
B. Regulates calcium in the blood
C. Destroys old blood cells
D. Produces prothrombin - (ANSWERS)C. Destroys old blood cells
The nurse should tell the parent that the spleen destroys old blood cells, filters antigens, and
stores platelets. A client without a spleen has an increased risk of infection and sepsis due to
a reduced immune function.
- A: Fluid balance is maintained by a variety of regulators, including the renal and endocrine
systems. The spleen is not involved in maintaining fluid balance.
- B: The parathyroid glands, which are located behind the thyroid gland, regulate calcium levels
in the blood
- D: Prothrombin is a clotting factor produced in the liver, not in the spleen
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD). The nurse should plan to monitor the client for which of the following complications?
A. Aspiration
B. Infection
C. Anemia
D. Weight loss - (ANSWERS)A. Aspiration
Aspiration is a common complication of GERD, which results when the esophageal sphincter
malfunctions and allows gastric acid and undigested food back up into the esophagus. This
places the client at risk of aspiration.
- GERD causes effortless, uncontrolled regurgitation whether the client is in an upright position
or reclining. The most common results of regurgitation are heartburn and indigestion; however,
aspiration is also possible.
, 2025 UPDATE |MED-SURG GASTROINTESTINAL|
RECENT UPDATE | COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS |GET IT 100% ACCURATE!!
- The nurse should monitor the client for crackles in the lung fields, which are an!@#$$$$$$$$$$%
indication of
aspiration
- B: Infection is not a common complication of GERD
- C: Anemia is not a common complication of GERD
- D: Nausea, vomiting, and resulting weight loss are rare in clients who have GERD
A nurse is assessing a client who has a bleeding duodenal ulcer. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Emesis with a coffee-ground appearance
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Decreased heart rate
D. Bright green stools - (ANSWERS)A. Emesis with a coffee-ground appearance
The nurse should expect a client who has a bleeding duodenal ulcer to have emesis that
resembles coffee-grounds or is bright red in color. Hematemesis indicates upper
gastrointestinal bleeding, occurring at or above the duodenojejunal junction.
- B: A client with a bleeding duodenal ulcer will have a decreased blood pressure due to
bleeding and fluid loss.
- C: A client with a bleeding duodenal ulcer will have a decreased heart rate due to bleeding and
fluid loss
- D: A client with a bleeding duodenal ulcer will have melena stools, which are tarry or dark in
color and are sticky.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following gastric surgery and has an
NG tube inserted. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Dryness of the mucous membranes
B. Hypoactive bowel sounds in all quadrants
C. 200 ml of bright red drainage from the NG tube
D. Suction set at continuous low suction - (ANSWERS)C. 200 ml of bright red drainage from the
NG tube
Drainage should be either a yellow-green color or clear. Bright red drainage indicates blood loss
and can be the result of a disrupted suture line or other internal bleeding. Volume loss from
blood is a medical emergency, and the provider should be immediately notified.
- A: The nurse can offer a lubricant for the nose and lips and provide ice chips, if they are
approved by the provider.
- B: The nurse should expect bowel sounds to be hypoactive following gastric surgery.
Resumption of bowel sounds occurs slowly and indicates a return of peristalsis, which
promotes healing. When peristalsis returns, the NG tube can be removed.
RECENT UPDATE | COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS |GET IT 100% ACCURATE!!
A nurse is caring for a client who has celiac disease. Which of the following foods should the
!@#$$$$$$$$$$%
nurse remove from the client's meal tray?
A. Wheat toast
B. Tapioca pudding
C. Hard-boiled egg
D. Mashed potatoes - (ANSWERS)A. Wheat toast
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by permanent intolerance to wheat,
barely, and rye. Wheat toast contains gluten and should be removed from the client's tray.
- Tapioca pudding, hard-boiled eggs, and mashed potatoes do not contain gluten.
A nurse is caring for a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Place the drainage bag on the client's abdomen when transferring from a bed to cart
B. Empty the drainage bag when it is half-full of urine
C. Rest the drainage bag on the floor when closing the drainage spigot during emptying
D. Disconnect the drainage bag when obtaining a urine specimen - (ANSWERS)B. Empty the
drainage bag when it is half-full of urine
The nurse should empty the drainage bag when half-full of urine. A drainage bag that is too full
can place tension on the catheter tubing, resulting in trauma to the urethra and urinary meatus.
- A: The nurse should always hang the drainage bag below the level of the client's bladder to
prevent back flow of the urine from the drainage bag and to maintain adequate drainage of the
bladder at all times.
- C: The nurse should maintain the drainage bag in a hanging position and verify that the
drainage spigot does not touch the floor when emptying to prevent contamination and maintain
asepsis.
- D: The nurse should obtain a urine specimen through the collection port in the drainage tubing
of the indwelling urinary catheter to prevent contamination and maintain asepsis.
A nurse is assessing a client who was admitted with a bowel obstruction. The client reports
severe abdominal pain. Which of the following findings indicates that a possible bowel
perforation has occurred?
A. Elevated blood pressure
B. Bowel sounds increased in frequency and pitch
C. Rigid abdomen
D. Emesis of undigested food - (ANSWERS)C. Rigid abdomen
,2025 UPDATE |MED-SURG GASTROINTESTINAL|
RECENT UPDATE | COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS |GET IT 100% ACCURATE!!
Abdominal tenderness and rigidity indicate a bowel perforation. As fluid escapes into the
!@#$$$$$$$$$$%
peritoneal cavity, a reduction in circulating blood volume occurs, lowering blood pressure.
- A: A client with a perforated bowel will not have an elevated blood pressure. However,
hypotension or shock can be present.
- B: Intestinal peristalsis increases in frequency and intensity as the bowel attempts to move
intestinal contents past the obstructed area. Bowel sounds are silent with a bowel perforation.
- D: Vomiting is frequent and copious with a small bowel obstruction. This does not indicate a
bowel perforation.
A nurse is caring for a child who had her spleen removed following a bicycle accident. The
child's parent asks the nurse about the role of the spleen in the body. The nurse should explain
that the spleen performs which of the following functions?
A. Maintains fluid balance
B. Regulates calcium in the blood
C. Destroys old blood cells
D. Produces prothrombin - (ANSWERS)C. Destroys old blood cells
The nurse should tell the parent that the spleen destroys old blood cells, filters antigens, and
stores platelets. A client without a spleen has an increased risk of infection and sepsis due to
a reduced immune function.
- A: Fluid balance is maintained by a variety of regulators, including the renal and endocrine
systems. The spleen is not involved in maintaining fluid balance.
- B: The parathyroid glands, which are located behind the thyroid gland, regulate calcium levels
in the blood
- D: Prothrombin is a clotting factor produced in the liver, not in the spleen
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD). The nurse should plan to monitor the client for which of the following complications?
A. Aspiration
B. Infection
C. Anemia
D. Weight loss - (ANSWERS)A. Aspiration
Aspiration is a common complication of GERD, which results when the esophageal sphincter
malfunctions and allows gastric acid and undigested food back up into the esophagus. This
places the client at risk of aspiration.
- GERD causes effortless, uncontrolled regurgitation whether the client is in an upright position
or reclining. The most common results of regurgitation are heartburn and indigestion; however,
aspiration is also possible.
, 2025 UPDATE |MED-SURG GASTROINTESTINAL|
RECENT UPDATE | COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS |GET IT 100% ACCURATE!!
- The nurse should monitor the client for crackles in the lung fields, which are an!@#$$$$$$$$$$%
indication of
aspiration
- B: Infection is not a common complication of GERD
- C: Anemia is not a common complication of GERD
- D: Nausea, vomiting, and resulting weight loss are rare in clients who have GERD
A nurse is assessing a client who has a bleeding duodenal ulcer. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Emesis with a coffee-ground appearance
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Decreased heart rate
D. Bright green stools - (ANSWERS)A. Emesis with a coffee-ground appearance
The nurse should expect a client who has a bleeding duodenal ulcer to have emesis that
resembles coffee-grounds or is bright red in color. Hematemesis indicates upper
gastrointestinal bleeding, occurring at or above the duodenojejunal junction.
- B: A client with a bleeding duodenal ulcer will have a decreased blood pressure due to
bleeding and fluid loss.
- C: A client with a bleeding duodenal ulcer will have a decreased heart rate due to bleeding and
fluid loss
- D: A client with a bleeding duodenal ulcer will have melena stools, which are tarry or dark in
color and are sticky.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following gastric surgery and has an
NG tube inserted. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Dryness of the mucous membranes
B. Hypoactive bowel sounds in all quadrants
C. 200 ml of bright red drainage from the NG tube
D. Suction set at continuous low suction - (ANSWERS)C. 200 ml of bright red drainage from the
NG tube
Drainage should be either a yellow-green color or clear. Bright red drainage indicates blood loss
and can be the result of a disrupted suture line or other internal bleeding. Volume loss from
blood is a medical emergency, and the provider should be immediately notified.
- A: The nurse can offer a lubricant for the nose and lips and provide ice chips, if they are
approved by the provider.
- B: The nurse should expect bowel sounds to be hypoactive following gastric surgery.
Resumption of bowel sounds occurs slowly and indicates a return of peristalsis, which
promotes healing. When peristalsis returns, the NG tube can be removed.
