Gastric & Colon Cancer NCLEX - AHII Test
1 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
" A gastrectomy is performed on a client with gastric cancer. In the immediate postoperative
period, the
nurse notes bloody drainage from the nasogastric tube. Which of the following is the appropriate
nursing intervention?"
"a) notify the physician
b) measure abdominal girth
c) irrigate the nasogastric tube
d) continue to monitor the drainage (CORRECT)" - CORRECT ANSWERS d) continue to
monitor the drainage (CORRECT)"Following gastrectomy, drainage from the nasogastric tube is
normally bloody for 24 hours postoperatively, changes to brown-tinged, and is then to yellow or
clear. Because bloody drainage is expected in the immediate postoperative period, the nurse
should continue to monitor the drainage. The nurse does not need to notify the physician at this
time. Measuring abdominal girth is performed to detect the development of distention. Following
gastrectomy, a nasogastric tube should not be irrigated unless there are specific physician orders
to do so.
"1. While being prepared for a biopsy, the patient asks the nurse what the difference is between a
benign tumor and a malignant tumor. The nurse explains that a benign tumor differs from a
malignant tumor in that benign tumors
"a. do not cause damage to adjacent tissue.
b. do not spread to other tissues and organs.
c. are simply an overgrowth of normal cells.
d. frequently recur in the same site." - CORRECT ANSWERS b. do not spread to other
tissues and organs. The major difference between benign and malignant tumors is that malignant
tumors invade adjacent tissues and spread to distant tissues and benign tumors never metastasize.
Both types of tumors may cause damage to adjacent tissues. The cells differ from normal in both
benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors usually do not recur.
,"11. The nurse is interviewing a male client about his past medical history. Which preexisting
condition may lead the nurse to suspect that a client has colorectal cancer?
"a. Duodenal ulcers
b. Hemorrhoids
c. Weight gain
d. Polyps" - CORRECT ANSWERS Answer D. Colorectal polyps are common with colon
cancer. Duodenal ulcers and hemorrhoids aren't preexisting conditions of colorectal cancer.
Weight loss — not gain — is an indication of colorectal cancer.
"74. The community nurse is conducting a health promotion program and the topic of the
discussion relates to the risk factors for gastric cancer. Which risk factor, if identified by a client,
indicates a need for further discussion?
"a) smoking
b) a high-fat diet
c) foods containing nitrates
d) a diet of smoked, highly salted, and spiced food" - CORRECT ANSWERS b) a high-fat
diet - A high-fat diet plays a role in the development of cancer of the pancreas. Options A, C, and
D are risk factorsrelated to gastric cancer.
"75. A gastrectomy is performed on a client with gastric cancer. In the immediate postoperative
period, the nurse notes bloody drainage from the nasogastric tube. Which of the following is the
appropriate nursing intervention?
"a) notify the physician
b) measure abdominal girth
c) irrigate the nasogastric tube
d) continue to monitor the drainage - CORRECT ANSWERS D)Following gastrectomy,
drainage from the nasogastric tube is normally bloody for 24 hours postoperatively, changes to
brown-tinged, and is then to yellow or clear. Because bloody drainage is expected in the
, immediate postoperative period, the nurse should continue to monitor the drainage. The nurse
does not need to notify the physician at this time. Measuring abdominal girth is performed to
detect the development of distention. Following gastrectomy, a nasogastric tube should not be
irrigated unless there are specific physician orders to do so.
"A client has been diagnosed with colon cancer of the rectum. While
completing the preoperative checklist the client asks the nurse "Where
will my stoma be?" The nurse's best response is
A. right upper quadrant. B. left upper quadrant C. right lower quadrant D. left lower quadrant -
CORRECT ANSWERS D) LLQ"Rationale: A client with cancer of the rectum will
have an abdominoperineal resection. The anal canal will be closed and a
stoma will be formed from the proximal sigmoid colon in the left lower
quadrant of the abdomen. The other 3 answers are in correlation with earlier sections of the colon
which is further from the rectum"
A client undergoes a colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. During the procedure three
small polyps were removed. Which nursing procedures are necessary when caring for the client
immediately after the colonoscopy? "A. Monitor vital signs and inform her that there may be a
small amount of blood in her stool.
B. Observe for signs and symptoms of bowel perforation, monitor vital signs, and inform her that
there may be a small amount of blood in her stool and to report excessive blood loss.
C. Observe for signs and symptoms of bowel perforation, monitor vital signs, and inform her to
follow a clear liquid diet.
D. Monitor vital signs and inform her that there may be a small amount of blood in her stool, and
tell her not to drive for two days." - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. B - Rationale: After a
colonoscopy the nurse should observe the patient closely for signs of bowel perforation (rectal
bleeding, abdominal pain and distention, malaise, fever, and mucopurulent drainage). Vital signs
should be monitored until stable. Due to the polyp removal, there may be some blood, but
excessive bleeding is not expected and must be reported. As well as monitoring vital signs and
instructing the patient that a small amount of blood may be present, it is very important to
educate and instruct to report excessive blood loss. The patient may resume a normal diet but is
instructed to increase fluid intake due to fluids lost through laxatives and the NPO period. The
1 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
" A gastrectomy is performed on a client with gastric cancer. In the immediate postoperative
period, the
nurse notes bloody drainage from the nasogastric tube. Which of the following is the appropriate
nursing intervention?"
"a) notify the physician
b) measure abdominal girth
c) irrigate the nasogastric tube
d) continue to monitor the drainage (CORRECT)" - CORRECT ANSWERS d) continue to
monitor the drainage (CORRECT)"Following gastrectomy, drainage from the nasogastric tube is
normally bloody for 24 hours postoperatively, changes to brown-tinged, and is then to yellow or
clear. Because bloody drainage is expected in the immediate postoperative period, the nurse
should continue to monitor the drainage. The nurse does not need to notify the physician at this
time. Measuring abdominal girth is performed to detect the development of distention. Following
gastrectomy, a nasogastric tube should not be irrigated unless there are specific physician orders
to do so.
"1. While being prepared for a biopsy, the patient asks the nurse what the difference is between a
benign tumor and a malignant tumor. The nurse explains that a benign tumor differs from a
malignant tumor in that benign tumors
"a. do not cause damage to adjacent tissue.
b. do not spread to other tissues and organs.
c. are simply an overgrowth of normal cells.
d. frequently recur in the same site." - CORRECT ANSWERS b. do not spread to other
tissues and organs. The major difference between benign and malignant tumors is that malignant
tumors invade adjacent tissues and spread to distant tissues and benign tumors never metastasize.
Both types of tumors may cause damage to adjacent tissues. The cells differ from normal in both
benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors usually do not recur.
,"11. The nurse is interviewing a male client about his past medical history. Which preexisting
condition may lead the nurse to suspect that a client has colorectal cancer?
"a. Duodenal ulcers
b. Hemorrhoids
c. Weight gain
d. Polyps" - CORRECT ANSWERS Answer D. Colorectal polyps are common with colon
cancer. Duodenal ulcers and hemorrhoids aren't preexisting conditions of colorectal cancer.
Weight loss — not gain — is an indication of colorectal cancer.
"74. The community nurse is conducting a health promotion program and the topic of the
discussion relates to the risk factors for gastric cancer. Which risk factor, if identified by a client,
indicates a need for further discussion?
"a) smoking
b) a high-fat diet
c) foods containing nitrates
d) a diet of smoked, highly salted, and spiced food" - CORRECT ANSWERS b) a high-fat
diet - A high-fat diet plays a role in the development of cancer of the pancreas. Options A, C, and
D are risk factorsrelated to gastric cancer.
"75. A gastrectomy is performed on a client with gastric cancer. In the immediate postoperative
period, the nurse notes bloody drainage from the nasogastric tube. Which of the following is the
appropriate nursing intervention?
"a) notify the physician
b) measure abdominal girth
c) irrigate the nasogastric tube
d) continue to monitor the drainage - CORRECT ANSWERS D)Following gastrectomy,
drainage from the nasogastric tube is normally bloody for 24 hours postoperatively, changes to
brown-tinged, and is then to yellow or clear. Because bloody drainage is expected in the
, immediate postoperative period, the nurse should continue to monitor the drainage. The nurse
does not need to notify the physician at this time. Measuring abdominal girth is performed to
detect the development of distention. Following gastrectomy, a nasogastric tube should not be
irrigated unless there are specific physician orders to do so.
"A client has been diagnosed with colon cancer of the rectum. While
completing the preoperative checklist the client asks the nurse "Where
will my stoma be?" The nurse's best response is
A. right upper quadrant. B. left upper quadrant C. right lower quadrant D. left lower quadrant -
CORRECT ANSWERS D) LLQ"Rationale: A client with cancer of the rectum will
have an abdominoperineal resection. The anal canal will be closed and a
stoma will be formed from the proximal sigmoid colon in the left lower
quadrant of the abdomen. The other 3 answers are in correlation with earlier sections of the colon
which is further from the rectum"
A client undergoes a colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. During the procedure three
small polyps were removed. Which nursing procedures are necessary when caring for the client
immediately after the colonoscopy? "A. Monitor vital signs and inform her that there may be a
small amount of blood in her stool.
B. Observe for signs and symptoms of bowel perforation, monitor vital signs, and inform her that
there may be a small amount of blood in her stool and to report excessive blood loss.
C. Observe for signs and symptoms of bowel perforation, monitor vital signs, and inform her to
follow a clear liquid diet.
D. Monitor vital signs and inform her that there may be a small amount of blood in her stool, and
tell her not to drive for two days." - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. B - Rationale: After a
colonoscopy the nurse should observe the patient closely for signs of bowel perforation (rectal
bleeding, abdominal pain and distention, malaise, fever, and mucopurulent drainage). Vital signs
should be monitored until stable. Due to the polyp removal, there may be some blood, but
excessive bleeding is not expected and must be reported. As well as monitoring vital signs and
instructing the patient that a small amount of blood may be present, it is very important to
educate and instruct to report excessive blood loss. The patient may resume a normal diet but is
instructed to increase fluid intake due to fluids lost through laxatives and the NPO period. The
