2024 ATI Medical Surgery Exam 2 New Latest
Version with All Questions from Actual Past
Exam and 100% Correct Answers
Question 1:
A patient admitted
... [Show More] with a peptic ulcer has a nasogastric (NG) tube in place.
When the patient develops sudden, severe upper abdominal pain, diaphoresis,
and a firm abdomen, which action should the nurse take?
A. Irrigate the NG tube.
B. Elevate the foot of the bed.
C. Give the ordered antacid.
D. Check the vital signs.
Show correct answer and explanation
Explanation
The nurse should quickly assess the patient's vital signs to check for signs of
shock and instability. If the vital signs are unstable, the nurse should initiate
appropriate interventions to stabilize the patient, such as administering oxygen,
starting IV fluids, and providing continuous cardiac monitoring. Based on the
sudden onset of severe upper abdominal pain, diaphoresis, and a firm abdomen,
the nurse should suspect a possible perforation or bleeding related to the peptic
ulcer. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention.
Therefore, the nurse should prioritize notifying the healthcare provider and
preparing the patient for urgent medical evaluation.
Option A, irrigating the NG tube, is not appropriate in this situation and may
further exacerbate the patient's condition if the ulcer has perforated.
Option B, elevating the foot of the bed, is also not appropriate as it does not
address the patient's current symptoms.
Option C, giving the ordered antacid, may not be effective in addressing the
severity of the patient's symptoms and should be postponed until the healthcare
provider has evaluated the patient.
Question 2:
What diagnostic test should the nurse anticipate for an older patient who is
vomiting "coffee-ground" emesis?
A. Endoscopy
B. Barium studies
C. Angiography
D. Gastric analysis
Show correct answer and explanation
Explanation
"Coffee-ground" emesis is a term used to describe vomit that has the
appearance of coffee grounds, which indicates that the vomit contains partially
digested blood. This is a serious symptom that could be indicative of an upper
gastrointestinal bleed. An endoscopy is a diagnostic test that allows healthcare
providers to visually examine the upper gastrointestinal tract and identify the
source of bleeding.
Barium studies and angiography are not typically used to diagnose upper
gastrointestinal bleeds. Gastric analysis may be useful in other diagnostic
situations, but it is not the most appropriate test for a patient with "coffeeground" emesis. [Show Less]