ATI LPN
Test Bank for Medical Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Interprofessional Collaborative Care 10th Edition
Chapter 52 : Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client presents to the family practice clinic reporting a week of watery, somewhat bloody diarrhea. The nurse assists the client to obtain a stool sample. What action by the nurse is most important?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
To avoid possible exposure to infectious agents, the nurse dons gloves prior to handling any bodily secretions. Recent exposure to illness is not related to collecting a stool sample. The nurse can visually inspect the stool for food particles, but it still needs analysis in the laboratory. The container should be dated and timed, but safety for the staff and other clients comes first.
Question 2 of 5
A client who has been taking antibiotics reports severe, watery diarrhea. About which test does the nurse teach the client?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Severe, watery diarrhea after antibiotic use may indicate Clostridioides difficile infection. The ELISA toxin A+B test is used to detect toxins produced by C. difficile. A colonoscopy, ova and parasites test, or stool culture are not typically warranted for this scenario unless further evaluation is needed.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse knows that a client with prolonged prothrombin time (PT) values (not related to medication) probably has dysfunction in which organ?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Severe acute or chronic liver damage leads to a prolonged PT secondary to impaired synthesis of clotting factors. The other organs are not directly related to this issue.
Question 4 of 5
A client is recovering from an esophagealgroduoesoscopy (EGD) and requests something to drink. What action by the nurse is best?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The local anesthetic used during an EGD can impair the gag reflex. The nurse should assess the client's gag reflex to ensure it is intact before allowing fluids to prevent aspiration. Providing water, reminding the client to remain NPO, or waiting two hours are not appropriate until the gag reflex is confirmed.
Question 5 of 5
The options for colon cancer screening for people over the age of 50 include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A,C,D
Rationale: Colonoscopy every 10 years, CT colonography, double-contrast barium enema, and flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years are standard options for colon cancer screening in people over 50. Fecal occult blood test annually is also a screening option, but it was not listed in the original document and is included here for completeness.