Deck 55: Assessment of Gastrointestinal Function

Question 1

The nurse is assessing a patient who is exhibiting pain in the right lower quadrant (RLQ).Based on this data,which diagnosis does the nurse suspect?

A) Cholelithiasis
B) Appendicitis
C) Cholecystitis
D) Pneumonia

Answer 1

Appendicitis

Question 2

Which is the primary system that is assessed by the nurse during an abdominal assessment?

A) Reproductive
B) Urinary
C) Digestive
D) Respiratory

Answer 2

Digestive

Question 3

Which structure,located in the right upper quadrant (RUQ)of the abdomen,is assessed by the nurse by palpation and percussion?

A) Spleen
B) Stomach
C) Sigmoid
D) Liver

Answer 3

Liver

Question 4

Which action by the nurse is appropriate when determining if bowel sounds are absent during the patient assessment?

A) Palpating the abdomen for two minutes
B) Inspecting the abdomen for 30 seconds
C) Percussing the abdomen for 60 seconds
D) Auscultating the abdomen for five minutes

Question 5

Which action by the nurse is appropriate when attempting to locate the spleen during the abdominal assessment?

A) Percussing over the 9th to the 11th ribs at the midaxillary line
B) Performing the scratch test
C) Auscultating for venous hums
D) Palpating for the apical pulse

Question 6

Which is the normal liver span at the midclavicular line the nurse anticipates when conducting a gastrointestinal assessment?

A) 3 to 6 cm
B) 4 to 8 cm
C) 6 to 12 cm
D) 12 to 16 cm

Question 7

Which bowel sound noted by the nurse during the gastrointestinal assessment indicates an early bowel obstruction?

A) Hyperperistaltic
B) Hypoperistaltic
C) Absent
D) Epigastric

Question 8

The nurse is providing care to a patient who reports diffuse abdominal pain.Upon assessment,the nurse notes absent bowel sounds and abdominal distension.Based on this data,which medical diagnosis does the nurse suspect?

A) Appendicitis
B) Bowel obstruction
C) Cirrhosis
D) Cholelithiasis

Question 9

The patient reports left upper quadrant (LUQ)pain.Based on this data,which does the nurse suspect?

A) Ruptured spleen
B) Pneumonia
C) Hepatitis
D) Duodenal ulcer

Question 10

The nurse is assessing a patient who presents with weight loss.Which assessment question is most appropriate for this patient?

A) "How is your appetite?"
B) "How frequent are your bowel movements?"
C) "When was your last bowel movement?"
D) "What color is your stool?"

Question 11

Which sound would the nurse expect to elicit when percussing the liver?

A) Resonance
B) Hyperresonance
C) Dullness
D) Tympany

Question 12

The nurse is assessing a patient who is prescribed an anticholinergic agent.Which assessment finding indicates the patient is experiencing an adverse reaction to the drug?

A) GI bleeding
B) Hepatic necrosis
C) Diarrhea
D) Hypoactive bowel sounds

Question 13

Which organ functions as a main site for metabolizing drugs and may become impaired with the aging process?

A) Stomach
B) Liver
C) Spleen
D) Large intestine

Question 14

An older adult patient is admitted to the hospital with blunt trauma to the abdomen after an auto accident.Which finding may indicate intra-abdominal bleeding?

A) Borborygmi
B) Everted umbilicus
C) Visible peristaltic waves
D) Bluish tint around the umbilicus

Question 15

Which structure is located in the left upper quadrant (LUQ)of the abdomen?

A) Liver
B) Spleen
C) Appendix
D) Sigmoid

Question 16

Which structure is located in the right lower quadrant (RLQ)of the abdomen?

A) Liver
B) Stomach
C) Cecum
D) Sigmoid

Question 17

The nurse notes a positive shifting dullness during abdominal percussion.Which diagnosis does this assessment data support?

A) Ascites
B) Liver enlargement
C) Pancreatitis
D) An abdominal mass

Question 18

Which is the correct sequence for the abdominal exam?

A) Inspection,palpation,percussion,and auscultation
B) Inspection,percussion,palpation,and auscultation
C) Inspection,auscultation,percussion,and palpation
D) Inspection,auscultation,palpation,and percussion

Question 19

Which structure of the gastrointestinal (GI)system is found in the right upper quadrant (RUQ)and is the primary site of absorption?

A) Stomach
B) Duodenum
C) Sigmoid
D) Large intestine