RNUR 238 CHAPTER 38: ASSESSMENT OF DIGESTIVE
AND GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTION
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? -
Answer -Inflammatory bowel disease
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? - Answer -Pepsin
The nurse is caring for a client scheduled for a colonoscopy. The nurse should assist
the client into what position during this diagnostic test? - Answer -Lying on the left side
with legs drawn toward the chest
A client has sought care because of recent dark-colored stools. As a result, a fecal
occult blood test has been ordered. The nurse should give what instructions to the
client? - Answer -"Take no NSAIDs within 72 hours of the test."
The nurse is preparing to perform a client's abdominal assessment. What examination
sequence should the nurse follow? - Answer -Inspection, auscultation, percussion, and
palpation
A client who has been experiencing changes in his bowel function is scheduled for a
barium enema. What instruction should the nurse provide for postprocedure recovery? -
Answer -Increase fluid intake to evacuate the barium.
A nurse is caring for a newly admitted client with a suspected GI bleed. The nurse
assesses the client's stool after a bowel movement and notes it to be a tarry-black color.
This finding is suggestive of bleeding from what location? - Answer -Upper GI tract
A nurse has auscultated a client's abdomen and noted one or two bowel sounds in a 2-
minute period of time. How should the nurse document the client's bowel sounds? -
Answer -Hypoactive
An advanced practice nurse is assessing the size and density of a client's abdominal
organs. If the results of palpation are unclear to the nurse, what assessment technique
should be implemented? - Answer -Percussion
The nurse is caring for a client with gastrointestinal symptoms who reports being under
a significant amount of stress at home and at work. Which gastrointestinal effect of
stress should the nurse anticipate is affecting this client? - Answer -Slowed peristalsis
AND GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTION
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? -
Answer -Inflammatory bowel disease
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? - Answer -Pepsin
The nurse is caring for a client scheduled for a colonoscopy. The nurse should assist
the client into what position during this diagnostic test? - Answer -Lying on the left side
with legs drawn toward the chest
A client has sought care because of recent dark-colored stools. As a result, a fecal
occult blood test has been ordered. The nurse should give what instructions to the
client? - Answer -"Take no NSAIDs within 72 hours of the test."
The nurse is preparing to perform a client's abdominal assessment. What examination
sequence should the nurse follow? - Answer -Inspection, auscultation, percussion, and
palpation
A client who has been experiencing changes in his bowel function is scheduled for a
barium enema. What instruction should the nurse provide for postprocedure recovery? -
Answer -Increase fluid intake to evacuate the barium.
A nurse is caring for a newly admitted client with a suspected GI bleed. The nurse
assesses the client's stool after a bowel movement and notes it to be a tarry-black color.
This finding is suggestive of bleeding from what location? - Answer -Upper GI tract
A nurse has auscultated a client's abdomen and noted one or two bowel sounds in a 2-
minute period of time. How should the nurse document the client's bowel sounds? -
Answer -Hypoactive
An advanced practice nurse is assessing the size and density of a client's abdominal
organs. If the results of palpation are unclear to the nurse, what assessment technique
should be implemented? - Answer -Percussion
The nurse is caring for a client with gastrointestinal symptoms who reports being under
a significant amount of stress at home and at work. Which gastrointestinal effect of
stress should the nurse anticipate is affecting this client? - Answer -Slowed peristalsis
