Free IBD NCLEX Questions and Answers Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which signs/symptoms should the nurse expect to find in a client diagnosed with ulcerative colitis?
- Twenty bloody stools a day (Correct answer)
- Oral temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit
- Hard, rigid abdomen
- Urinary stress incontinence
Correct answer: Twenty bloody stools a day
Explanation: <br> Ulcerative colitis typically presents with symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and urgency to defecate. The presence of frequent bloody stools, as described in option 1, is a hallmark symptom of ulcerative colitis. Options 2, 3, and 4 are not typically associated with ulcerative colitis.
Question 2: The client diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease has a serum potassium level of 3.4 mEq/L. Which action should the nurse implement first?
- Notify the healthcare provider
- Assess the client for muscle weakness (Correct answer)
- Request telemetry for the client
- Prepare to administer potassium IV
Correct answer: Assess the client for muscle weakness
Explanation: <br> Option 2, "Assess the client for muscle weakness," is the priority because a low serum potassium level can cause muscle weakness. Assessing for this symptom helps the nurse understand the severity of the condition and guides further actions. Options 1, 3, and 4 may be necessary, but assessing for muscle weakness is the immediate priority to address the potential impact of low potassium levels on the client's health.
Question 3: The client is diagnosed with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
- Provide a low-residue diet
- Rest the client's bowels (Correct answer)
- Asses vital signs daily
- Administer antacids orally
Correct answer: Rest the client's bowels
Explanation: <br> Option 2, "Rest the client's bowels," is the most appropriate intervention during an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. This allows the colon to heal by reducing inflammation. Options 1, 3, and 4 may be relevant in other contexts but are not specifically targeted at managing an acute exacerbation of this condition.
Question 4: The client diagnosed with IBD is prescribed total parental nutrition (TPN). Which intervention should the nurse implement?
- Check the client's glucose level (Correct answer)
- Administer an oral hypoglycemic
- Assess the peripheral intravenous site
- Monitor the client's oral food intake
Correct answer: Check the client's glucose level
Explanation: <br> "Check the client's glucose level" is a valid intervention, as monitoring glucose levels is essential when a client is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). TPN solutions contain glucose, which can affect blood sugar levels, so regular monitoring helps prevent complications such as hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
Question 5: The client is diagnosed with an acute exacerbation of IBD. Which priority intervention should the nurse implement first?
- Weigh the client daily and document it in the client's chart
- Teach coping strategies such as dietary modifications
- Record the frequency, amount, and color of stools (Correct answer)
- Monitor the client's oral fluid intake every shift
Correct answer: Record the frequency, amount, and color of stools
Explanation: <br> During an acute exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the priority intervention for the nurse is to closely monitor the client's gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly the frequency, amount, and color of stools. This assessment helps evaluate disease severity and guide treatment decisions.
Question 6: The client diagnosed with Crohn's disease is crying and tells the nurse "I can't take it anymore. I never know when I will get sick and end up here in the hospital." Which statement is the nurse's best response?
- I understand how frustrating this must be for you.
- You must keep thinking about the good things in your life.
- I can see you are very upset. I'll sit down and we can talk. (Correct answer)
- Are you thinking about doing anything like committing suicide?
Correct answer: I can see you are very upset. I'll sit down and we can talk.
Explanation: <br> Option 3 demonstrates therapeutic communication by acknowledging the client's distress, offering support, and initiating a conversation. It validates the client's feelings and provides an opportunity for the client to express concerns.
Question 7: The nurse is caring for a child with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and severe diarrhea. Which goal should the nurse identify as a priority for this client?
- The child maintains adequate hydration. (Correct answer)
- The child demonstrates healthy coping skills.
- The child reports improved sleep.
- The child self-administered prescribed medication.
Correct answer: The child maintains adequate hydration.
Explanation: A child with severe UC is having frequent diarrhea and most likely has a fluid volume deficit. The priority goal for this child is to maintain adequate hydration to support fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. Healthy coping skills are important, but physiological needs should be addressed first. The child may be too young to self-administer medication. There is no indication that the child is having difficulty sleeping.
Question 8: The client diagnosed with IBD is prescribed sulfasalazine (Asulfidine), a sulfonamide antibiotic. Which statement best describes the rationale for administering this medication?
- It is administered rectally to help decrease colon inflammation.
- This medication slows gastrointestinal motility and reduces diarrhea.
- This medication kills the bacteria causing the exacerbation.
- It acts topically on the colon mucosa to decrease inflammation. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: It acts topically on the colon mucosa to decrease inflammation.
Explanation: <br> Sulfasalazine is a medication commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) because it releases 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), which acts topically on the colon mucosa to reduce inflammation. Option 1 is incorrect because sulfasalazine is typically administered orally. Option 2 is inaccurate because sulfasalazine does not directly affect gastrointestinal motility. Option 3 is incorrect because sulfasalazine does not primarily function as an antibiotic.
Question 9: The client diagnosed with ulcerative colitis is prescribed a low-residue diet. Which meal selection indicates the client understands the diet teaching?
- Grilled hamburger on a wheat bun and fried potatoes.
- A chicken salad sandwich and lettuce and tomato salad.
- Roast pork, white rice, and plain custard. (Correct answer)
- Fried fish, whole grain pasta, and fruit salad.
Correct answer: Roast pork, white rice, and plain custard.
Explanation: <br> A low-residue diet typically consists of foods that are low in fiber, such as white rice and plain custard. Foods like roast pork and white rice are easily digestible and unlikely to aggravate symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis.
Question 10: The nurse is caring for a client in the early stages of Crohn’s disease. Which type of lesion should the nurse recall that occurs when at the beginning of this disease process?
- Aphthoid (Correct answer)
- Crypt abscess
- Canker sore
- Fistula
Correct answer: Aphthoid
Explanation: <br> Aphthoid lesions are small, inflammatory ulcers with a white base and elevated margin. They have a similar appearance to a canker sore, but they are not cankers. A crypt abscess is found in the beginning stages of ulcerative colitis, not Crohn’s disease. Fistulas appear as Crohn’s disease progresses, not in the early stages.
Question 11: The nurse is preparing a community initiative to help reduce the rate of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). On which behavior should the nurse focus?
- Increasing daily exercise habits
- Eliminating alcohol use
- Making lifestyle changes to a low-fat diet
- Smoking cessation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Smoking cessation
Explanation: <br> Smoking cigarettes is a major risk factor for the development of IBD and should be the behavior on which the nurse focuses. Dietary changes, such as a low-fat diet or eliminating alcohol, are not associated with decreasing the risk of IBD. Increasing regular exercise does not reduce the risk of developing IBD.
Free IBD NCLEX Questions and Answers Questions and Answers
Which signs/symptoms should the nurse expect to find in a client diagnosed with ulcerative colitis?