Certified Gastroenterology RN Patient Assessment and Education 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient preparing for a capsule endoscopy asks what to expect. Which teaching point is correct?
- You will swallow a pill-sized camera that transmits images as it passes through the small bowel (Correct answer)
- You will be under general anesthesia for the entire study
- The capsule must be retrieved from stool and returned to the lab
- You cannot eat or drink anything for 24 hours after swallowing the capsule
Correct answer: You will swallow a pill-sized camera that transmits images as it passes through the small bowel
Capsule endoscopy uses a swallowed wireless camera to image the small intestine, and the disposable capsule passes naturally.
Question 2: Which assessment finding in a patient with acute pancreatitis suggests retroperitoneal bleeding?
- Bluish discoloration around the umbilicus (Cullen's sign) (Correct answer)
- Rebound tenderness at McBurney's point
- A positive Murphy's sign on inspiration
- Hyperactive bowel sounds in all quadrants
Correct answer: Bluish discoloration around the umbilicus (Cullen's sign)
Cullen's sign (periumbilical ecchymosis) and Grey Turner's sign (flank ecchymosis) indicate hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
Question 3: When teaching a patient with celiac disease about diet, which hidden source of gluten should the nurse highlight?
- Soy sauce and some salad dressings (Correct answer)
- Plain white rice
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Unseasoned grilled chicken
Correct answer: Soy sauce and some salad dressings
Many soy sauces and processed condiments contain wheat, making them hidden gluten sources.
Question 4: A patient is scheduled for an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with moderate sedation. Which pre-procedure instruction is essential?
- Remain NPO for at least 6-8 hours before the procedure (Correct answer)
- Complete a full polyethylene glycol bowel prep the night before
- Take all routine oral medications with a large glass of water on arrival
- Avoid brushing teeth the morning of the procedure
Correct answer: Remain NPO for at least 6-8 hours before the procedure
An empty stomach is required for EGD to allow visualization and reduce aspiration risk during sedation.
Question 5: The nurse assesses a patient 2 hours after a colonoscopy with polypectomy. Which finding requires immediate provider notification?
- Severe abdominal pain with a rigid, distended abdomen (Correct answer)
- Passage of a small amount of flatus
- Mild abdominal cramping relieved by walking
- Drowsiness that improves with stimulation
Correct answer: Severe abdominal pain with a rigid, distended abdomen
Severe pain with rigidity and distention suggests bowel perforation, a post-polypectomy emergency.
Question 6: When educating a patient about a low-FODMAP diet for irritable bowel syndrome, the nurse explains that the diet is intended to be:
- A temporary elimination phase followed by structured reintroduction of foods (Correct answer)
- A permanent lifelong restriction of all fermentable carbohydrates
- A high-fiber bulking regimen used during flares
- A liquid-only diet used before diagnostic testing
Correct answer: A temporary elimination phase followed by structured reintroduction of foods
Low-FODMAP is an elimination-then-reintroduction protocol to identify individual trigger foods, not a permanent diet.
Question 7: Which patient statement indicates a need for further teaching about hepatitis C transmission?
- I can spread it to my family by sharing dinner plates and hugging (Correct answer)
- I should not share razors or toothbrushes with anyone
- I will cover any open cuts with a bandage
- I should tell my tattoo artist to use sterile, single-use needles
Correct answer: I can spread it to my family by sharing dinner plates and hugging
Hepatitis C is bloodborne and is not transmitted through casual contact, hugging, or sharing dishes.
Certified Gastroenterology RN Patient Assessment and Education 3
A patient preparing for a capsule endoscopy asks what to expect.
Which teaching point is correct?