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A nurse is assessing the abdomen of a patient just admitted to the unit with a suspected GI disease. Inspection reveals several diverse lesions on the patient's abdomen. How should the nurse best interpret this assessment finding?
- A. Abdominal lesions are usually due to age-related skin changes.
- B. Integumentary diseases often cause GI disorders.
- C. GI diseases often produce skin changes.
- D. The patient needs to be assessed for self-harm.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Abdominal lesions are of particular importance, because GI diseases often produce skin changes. Skin problems do not normally cause GI disorders. Age-related skin changes do not have a pronounced effect on the skin of the abdomen when compared to other skin surfaces. Self-harm is a less likely explanation for skin lesions on the abdomen.
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The physiology instructor is discussing the GI system with the pre-nursing class. What should the instructor describe as a major function of the GI tract?
- A. The breakdown of food particles into cell form for digestion
- B. The maintenance of fluid and acid-base balance
- C. The absorption into the bloodstream of nutrient molecules produced by digestion
- D. The control of absorption and elimination of electrolytes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Primary functions of the GI tract include the breakdown of food particles into molecular form for digestion; the absorption into the bloodstream of small nutrient molecules produced by digestion; and the elimination of undigested unabsorbed food stuffs and other waste products. Nutrients must be broken down into molecular form, not cell form. Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance are primarily under the control of the kidneys.
Results of a patient's preliminary assessment prompted an examination of the patient's carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, which have come back positive. What is the nurse's most appropriate response to this finding?
- A. Perform a focused abdominal assessment.
- B. Prepare to meet the patient's psychosocial needs.
- C. Liaise with the nurse practitioner to perform an anorectal examination.
- D. Encourage the patient to adhere to recommended screening protocols.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CEA is a protein that is normally not detected in the blood of a healthy person; therefore, when detected it indicates that cancer is present, but not what type of cancer is present. The patient would likely be learning that he or she has cancer, so the nurse must prioritize the patient's immediate psychosocial needs, not abdominal assessment. Future screening is not a high priority in the short term.
A patient with cystic fibrosis takes pancreatic enzyme replacements on a regular basis. The patient's intake of trypsin facilitates what aspect of GI function?
- A. Vitamin D synthesis
- B. Digestion of fats
- C. Maintenance of peristalsis
- D. Digestion of proteins
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Trypsin facilitates the digestion of proteins. It does not influence vitamin D synthesis, the digestion of fats, or peristalsis.
A nurse is promoting increased protein intake to enhance a patient's wound healing. The nurse knows that enzymes are essential in the digestion of nutrients such as protein. What is the enzyme that initiates the digestion of protein?
- A. Pepsin
- B. Intrinsic factor
- C. Lipase
- D. Amylase
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The enzyme that initiates the digestion of protein is pepsin. Intrinsic factor combines with vitamin B12 for absorption by the ileum. Lipase aids in the digestion of fats and amylase aids in the digestion of starch.
An inpatient has returned to the medical unit after a barium enema. When assessing the patient's subsequent bowel patterns and stools, what finding should the nurse report to the physician?
- A. Large, wide stools
- B. Milky white stools
- C. Three stools during an 8-hour period of time
- D. Streaks of blood present in the stool
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Barium has a high osmolarity and may draw fluid into the bowel, thus increasing the intraluminal contents and resulting in greater output (large stools). The barium will give the stools a milky white appearance, and it is not uncommon for the patient to experience an increase in the number of bowel movements. Blood in fecal matter is not an expected finding and the nurse should notify the physician.