Upper GI
What is the name of the bacteria and medication that is commonly associated with peptic ulcer disease (PUD)?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), Corticosteroid
A patient has just returned from a laparotomy. To help reduce the risk of atelectasis and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), what might the nurse have the patient do?
Encourage early ambulation (walking as soon as **safely** possible)
A patient reports severe right upper quadrant pain after eating a fatty meal, with nausea and vomiting. What condition should the nurse suspect?
Cholelithiasis (gallstones).
A patient asks the nurse which type of hepatitis cannot infect the liver without another hepatitis virus. Which hepatitis virus is the patient most likely thinking about?
Hepatitis D cannot replicate without Hepatitis B
An older adult patient is admitted with confusion, lethargy, and decreased appetite, but reports no dysuria or urgency. What condition could they have?
UTI
A patient presents with vomiting of coffee-ground emesis, black tarry stools, pallor, tachycardia, and hypotension.
What condition does the nurse suspect the patient is experiencing?
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
On assessment of a patient with a colostomy, you note the stoma is located on the right side of the abdomen. Based on its location, what type of stool consistency should the nurse expect?
liquid stool
A patient had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy yesterday. They now report shoulder pain, abdominal bloating, and difficulty breathing deeply. What postoperative complication should the nurse anticipate and why?
Referred shoulder pain from residual CO₂ gas in the abdomen and risk of atelectasis; encourage ambulation, deep breathing, and pain management.
During your morning assessment of a patient with cirrhosis, you note the patient is disoriented to person and place. In addition while assessing the upper extremities, the patient's hands demonstrate a flapping motion. What lab result would explain these abnormal assessment findings?
Increase Ammonia level
A patient with a history of repeated kidney infections presents with fatigue, hypertension, and foamy urine. Laboratory tests reveal proteinuria, hematuria, and elevated BUN and creatinine. What kidney disorder should the nurse suspect?
chronic glomerulonephritis
Describe the difference between a gastric ulcer and a duodenal ulcer regarding pain timing and relief.
Gastric ulcer pain occurs 30 to 60 mins after a meal, and it is not relieved by food. Duodenal ulcer pain occurs 1.5 to 3 hours after a meal, and the pain is relieved by ingestion of food or antacid.
A patient has the following symptoms: diarrhea up to 15-20 times a day, stools that contains blood with pus and mucous, rectal bleeding, low hemoglobin/hematocrit, low potassium level. Based on the patient’s signs and symptoms, which disease does this describe?
Ulcerative colitis
Your patient is diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. The patient is extremely nauseous. A nasogastric tube is inserted with GI decompression. The patient reports a pain rating of 9 on 1-10 scale and states the pain radiates to the shoulder blade. Select all the appropriate nursing interventions for the patient:
B, C, D, E, F
Your patient with acute pancreatitis is scheduled for a test that will use a scope to assess the pancreas, bile ducts, and gallbladder. The patient asks you, "What is the name of the test I’m going for later today?" You tell the patient it is called:
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
A patient is scheduled for a cystoscopy. What is the primary purpose of this procedure?
To visually examine the bladder and urethra for abnormalities.
Name four signs that a person is experiencing a gastric or duodenal perforation, and explain what the nurse should do.
Signs of perforation:
Sudden, severe epigastric pain that spreads to the shoulders
Rigid, boardlike abdomen
Rebound tenderness and absent bowel sounds
Signs of shock (tachycardia, hypotension, diaphoresis)
Nursing actions:
Notify the provider immediately (medical emergency)
A patient with a history of diverticulosis is admitted with abdominal pain. The physician suspects diverticulitis. What other findings would correlate with diverticulitis? SELECT-ALL-THAT-APPLY
options:
B, D, E, F, G
A patient with acute pancreatitis develops bluish discoloration around the umbilicus and flanks. What does this indicate?
Cullen’s sign (periumbilical ecchymosis) and Grey Turner’s sign (flank bruising), which indicate retroperitoneal bleeding or severe pancreatitis
A patient with a history of chronic Hepatitis B presents with fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal distention. Lab work shows elevated AST and ALT, high bilirubin, low albumin, and prolonged PT/INR. What liver condition should the nurse suspect, and how are these findings related to hepatitis?
The patient likely has cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis (B or C), as indicated by liver dysfunction and impaired synthetic function reflected in the labs.
A patient with chronic kidney disease develops hyperkalemia, edema, and fatigue. What complication should the nurse anticipate?
Fluid and electrolyte imbalance due to impaired kidney function.
A nurse is caring for a patient who recently had a partial gastrectomy and begins experiencing dizziness, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and abdominal cramping about 30 minutes after eating.
What condition does the nurse suspect, and what should the nurse instruct the patient to do regarding meals, what to avoid, and post-meal activity?
Condition:
Dumping Syndrome
Patient Teaching:
Eat small, frequent meals instead of large meals
Avoid drinking fluids with meals; drink fluids between meals
Avoid foods high in simple sugars or carbohydrates
Lie down or rest after eating to slow gastric emptying
Emphasize high-protein, high-fiber foods to help regulate digestion
During an outpatient clinic visit, a female patient reports feeling abdominal bloating/pain, and diarrhea when eating foods that contain wheat or rye. The patient states her mother was diagnosed with Celiac Disease 5 years ago. What other symptoms will you assess the patient for that can be present in Celiac Disease? SELECT-ALL-THAT-APPLY:
A, C, D, G, H
A patient has a transhepatic biliary catheter following a bile duct obstruction. As the nurse, what assessments and interventions should be performed to ensure proper function and prevent complications?
The nurse should monitor drainage color and amount, maintain patency, keep the insertion site clean and dry, and assess for signs of infection or bile leakage.
Why might a patient with chronic cirrhosis develop portal hypertension? What complication may result from portal hypertension
Cirrhosis causes scarring that blocks blood flow through the liver, increasing pressure in the portal vein (portal hypertension), which can lead to complications such as varices, ascites, and splenomegaly.
A patient with stage 4 chronic kidney disease asks what type of diet they should follow. You explain the patient should follow what a diet low in what?
low in protein, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus