Lower GI NCLEX Questions with answers
A 71-year-old male patient tells the nurse that growing old causes
constipation so he has been using a suppository for constipation every
morning. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Encourage the patient to increase oral fluid intake.
b. Assess the patient about risk factors for constipation.
c. Suggest that the patient increase intake of high-fiber foods.
d. Teach the patient that a daily bowel movement is unnecessary. -
CORRECT ANSWER>>B
A 26-year-old woman is being evaluated for vomiting and abdominal pain.
Which question from the nurse will be most useful in determining the cause
of the patient's symptoms?
a. "What type of foods do you eat?"
b. "Is it possible that you are pregnant?"
c. "Can you tell me more about the pain?"
d. "What is your usual elimination pattern?" - CORRECT ANSWER>>C
A patient complains of gas pains and abdominal distention two days after a
small bowel resection. Which nursing action is best to take?
a. Encourage the patient to ambulate.
b. Instill a mineral oil retention enema.
c. Administer the ordered IV morphine sulfate.
d. Offer the ordered promethazine (Phenergan) suppository. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>A
A 58-year-old man with blunt abdominal trauma from a motor vehicle crash
undergoes peritoneal lavage. If the lavage returns brown fecal drainage,
which action will the nurse plan to take next?
a. Auscultate the bowel sounds.
b. Prepare the patient for surgery.
c. Check the patient's oral temperature.
, d. Obtain information about the accident. - CORRECT ANSWER>>B:
Return of brown drainage and fecal material suggests perforation of the
bowel and the need for immediate surgery
A 27-year-old female patient is admitted to the hospital for evaluation of
right lower quadrant abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting. Which
action should the nurse take?
a. Encourage the patient to sip clear liquids.
b. Assess the abdomen for rebound tenderness.
c. Assist the patient to cough and deep breathe.
d. Apply an ice pack to the right lower quadrant. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>D: The patient's clinical manifestations are consistent with
appendicitis, and application of an ice pack will decrease inflammation at
the area.
Which nursing action will be included in the plan of care for a 27-year-old
male patient with bowel irregularity and a new diagnosis of irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS)?
a. Encourage the patient to express concerns and ask questions about IBS.
b. Suggest that the patient increase the intake of milk and other dairy
products.
c. Educate the patient about the use of alosetron (Lotronex) to reduce
symptoms.
d. Teach the patient to avoid using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs). - CORRECT ANSWER>>A:Because psychologic and emotional
factors can affect the symptoms for IBS, encouraging the patient to discuss
emotions and ask questions is an important intervention.
A patient being admitted with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis
reports crampy abdominal pain and passing 15 or more bloody stools a
day. The nurse will plan to
a. administer IV metoclopramide (Reglan).
b. discontinue the patient's oral food intake.
c. administer cobalamin (vitamin B12) injections.
A 71-year-old male patient tells the nurse that growing old causes
constipation so he has been using a suppository for constipation every
morning. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Encourage the patient to increase oral fluid intake.
b. Assess the patient about risk factors for constipation.
c. Suggest that the patient increase intake of high-fiber foods.
d. Teach the patient that a daily bowel movement is unnecessary. -
CORRECT ANSWER>>B
A 26-year-old woman is being evaluated for vomiting and abdominal pain.
Which question from the nurse will be most useful in determining the cause
of the patient's symptoms?
a. "What type of foods do you eat?"
b. "Is it possible that you are pregnant?"
c. "Can you tell me more about the pain?"
d. "What is your usual elimination pattern?" - CORRECT ANSWER>>C
A patient complains of gas pains and abdominal distention two days after a
small bowel resection. Which nursing action is best to take?
a. Encourage the patient to ambulate.
b. Instill a mineral oil retention enema.
c. Administer the ordered IV morphine sulfate.
d. Offer the ordered promethazine (Phenergan) suppository. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>A
A 58-year-old man with blunt abdominal trauma from a motor vehicle crash
undergoes peritoneal lavage. If the lavage returns brown fecal drainage,
which action will the nurse plan to take next?
a. Auscultate the bowel sounds.
b. Prepare the patient for surgery.
c. Check the patient's oral temperature.
, d. Obtain information about the accident. - CORRECT ANSWER>>B:
Return of brown drainage and fecal material suggests perforation of the
bowel and the need for immediate surgery
A 27-year-old female patient is admitted to the hospital for evaluation of
right lower quadrant abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting. Which
action should the nurse take?
a. Encourage the patient to sip clear liquids.
b. Assess the abdomen for rebound tenderness.
c. Assist the patient to cough and deep breathe.
d. Apply an ice pack to the right lower quadrant. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>D: The patient's clinical manifestations are consistent with
appendicitis, and application of an ice pack will decrease inflammation at
the area.
Which nursing action will be included in the plan of care for a 27-year-old
male patient with bowel irregularity and a new diagnosis of irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS)?
a. Encourage the patient to express concerns and ask questions about IBS.
b. Suggest that the patient increase the intake of milk and other dairy
products.
c. Educate the patient about the use of alosetron (Lotronex) to reduce
symptoms.
d. Teach the patient to avoid using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs). - CORRECT ANSWER>>A:Because psychologic and emotional
factors can affect the symptoms for IBS, encouraging the patient to discuss
emotions and ask questions is an important intervention.
A patient being admitted with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis
reports crampy abdominal pain and passing 15 or more bloody stools a
day. The nurse will plan to
a. administer IV metoclopramide (Reglan).
b. discontinue the patient's oral food intake.
c. administer cobalamin (vitamin B12) injections.
