Name that GI Disorder
A patient complains of heartburn, regurgitation, and a chronic cough, especially at night. What disorder is most likely?
Answer: What is GERD?Rationale: GERD is caused by LES dysfunction and presents with reflux symptoms, often worse when lying down.
What is a life-threatening complication of untreated appendicitis?
Answer: What is rupture/peritonitis?Rationale: A ruptured appendix releases infectious contents into the peritoneum, leading to sepsis.
What is the nurse’s priority before an upper endoscopy?
Answer: What is ensure the patient is NPO for 6–8 hours?
Rationale: To reduce aspiration risk during sedation.
A patient with SBO is NPO. What nursing assessment is most relevant?
Answer: What is abdominal distention and bowel sounds?Rationale: Assess for worsening obstruction or return of function.
What cancer is most common in women in the U.S.?
Answer: What is breast cancer?Rationale: Breast cancer is the leading female cancer diagnosis in the U.S.
A patient presents with RUQ pain after eating fatty meals, nausea, and a low-grade fever.
Answer: What is cholecystitis?
Rationale: Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder due to gallstones and classically causes postprandial RUQ pain.
A patient with GERD is at risk for developing this precancerous condition.
Answer: What is Barrett’s esophagus?
Rationale: Chronic acid exposure alters esophageal lining, increasing cancer risk.
A nurse is caring for a patient post-barium swallow. What is the priority teaching?
Answer: What is increase fluids to eliminate barium?
Rationale: Prevent barium impaction and promote excretion.
A patient with cirrhosis is on lactulose. What lab should be monitored?
Answer: What is ammonia level?
Rationale: Lactulose lowers ammonia to treat hepatic encephalopathy.
A patient receives radiation therapy. What common skin issue should the nurse anticipate?
Answer: What is radiation burn or irritation?
Rationale: Localized skin damage is common with radiation exposure.
A patient complains of LUQ pain radiating to the back, N/V, and elevated amylase and lipase.
Answer: What is pancreatitis?
Rationale: Pancreatitis commonly presents with epigastric/LUQ pain and elevated pancreatic enzymes.
A major complication of peptic ulcer disease is:
A) Constipation
B) Hemorrhage
C) Malabsorption
D) GERD
Answer: What is B) Hemorrhage?
Rationale: Erosion of blood vessels can lead to GI bleeding, a serious complication.
Which labs are most helpful in evaluating liver function? (Select all that apply)
A) ALT
B) Creatinine
C) Bilirubin
D) ALP
E) BUN
Answer: What are A, C, and D?
Rationale: ALT, bilirubin, and ALP reflect hepatobiliary function.
What is the most important nursing intervention after administering chemotherapy?
Answer: What is monitor for infection and neutropenia?
Rationale: Chemo suppresses bone marrow, increasing infection risk.
A nurse is teaching about primary cancer prevention. Which is an example?
A) Mammogram
B) Colonoscopy
C) HPV vaccine
D) Chemotherapy
Answer: What is C) HPV vaccine?
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to stop cancer before it develops.
A patient presents with RLQ pain at McBurney’s point, fever, and rebound tenderness.
Answer: What is appendicitis?
Rationale: Appendicitis has classic RLQ signs and risk of rupture if untreated.
A patient with diverticulitis is suddenly febrile with rebound tenderness and guarding. What complication is most likely?
Answer: What is perforation leading to peritonitis?
Rationale: Perforation of infected diverticula causes peritoneal inflammation and sepsis risk.
You’re collecting a stool sample for occult blood and ova/parasites. What technique should you use?
Answer: What is clean technique with proper labeling?
Rationale: Stool samples are non-sterile but must be uncontaminated and properly handled.
A patient with a new stoma has impaired skin integrity. What referral is most appropriate?
Answer: Who is the ostomy or wound nurse?
Rationale: Wound/ostomy nurses provide specialized skin and appliance care.
What’s the gold standard diagnostic test for confirming cancer?
Answer: What is a biopsy?
Rationale: Histologic examination of tissue confirms malignancy.
A patient has weight loss, diarrhea, fistulas, and abdominal cramping. Colonoscopy shows skip lesions.
Answer: What is Crohn’s disease?
Rationale: Crohn’s affects any part of the GI tract with patchy inflammation and transmural lesions.
What are two major complications of cirrhosis related to portal hypertension?
Answer: What are variceal bleeding and ascites?
Rationale: Portal hypertension leads to varices and fluid shifts causing ascites.
Before a CT with contrast, what are two essential nursing assessments?
Answer: What are check for contrast allergy and renal function?
Rationale: Contrast can cause nephrotoxicity and allergic reactions.
A patient with IBD is fatigued, losing weight, and has 10 bloody stools per day. What nursing diagnosis is most appropriate?
Answer: What is Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements?
Rationale: IBD can cause nutrient loss and anorexia.
A patient with lung cancer is receiving palliative chemotherapy. What is the goal of this treatment?
Answer: What is symptom control and quality of life?
Rationale: Palliative care focuses on comfort rather than cure.