Exam (elaborations)
Chapter 46 Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
- Course
- Maternal child nursing
- Institution
- Rutgers School Of Nursing
Chapter 46 Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
[Show more]
Content preview
Chapter 46: Gastrointestinal DysfunctionMULTIPLE CHOICE
1. When a child has which symptom would the nurse be alert for increased fluid
requirements?
a. Fever
b. Mechanical ventilation
c. Heart failure
d. Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
ANS: A
Fever may cause dehydration to develop quickly. The respiratory rate influences
insensible fluid loss and should be monitored in a mechanically ventilated child. Heart
failure is a case of fluid overload in children. ICP does not lead to increased fluid
requirements in children.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 1410
OBJ: Nursing Process: Assessment
2. What type of dehydration results from water loss in excess of electrolyte loss?
a. Isotonic dehydration
b. Isosmotic dehydration
c. Hypotonic dehydration
d. Hypertonic dehydration
ANS: D
Hypertonic dehydration results from water loss in excess of electrolyte loss. This is the
most dangerous type of dehydration, caused by feeding children fluids with high
amounts of solute. Isotonic dehydration occurs when electrolyte and water deficits are
balanced in proportion. Isosmotic dehydration is another term for isotonic
dehydration. Hypotonic dehydration occurs when the electrolyte deficit exceeds the
water deficit, leaving the serum hypotonic.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 1411
OBJ: Nursing Process: Assessment
3. An infant is brought to the emergency department with poor skin turgor, weight loss,
lethargy, and tachycardia. What are these signs suggestive of?
, a. Overhydration
b. Dehydration
c. Sodium excess
d. Potassium excess
ANS: B
These clinical manifestations indicate dehydration. Symptoms of overhydration are
edema and weight gain. Regardless of extracellular sodium levels, total body sodium is
usually depleted in dehydration. Symptoms of hypocalcemia are a result of
neuromuscular irritability and manifest as jitteriness, tetany, tremors, and muscle
twitching. These symptoms do not indicate hyperkalemia.
DIF: Cognitive Level: ComprehensionREF: p. 1412 | Table 46-4
OBJ: Nursing Process: Assessment
4. What is often the cause of acute diarrhea?
a. Irritable bowel syndrome
b. Antibiotic therapy
c. Hypothyroidism
d. Hirschsprung’s disease
ANS: B
Acute diarrhea is a sudden increase in frequency and change in consistency of stools
and may be associated with antibiotic therapy, upper respiratory or urinary infections,
or laxative use. Hirschsprung’s disease and hypothyroidism are usually manifested with
constipation rather than diarrhea. Irritable bowel disease is the cause of chronic
diarrhea rather than acute diarrhea.
DIF: Cognitive Level: ComprehensionREF: p. 1413 | p. 1416
OBJ: Nursing Process: Assessment
5. What is the viral pathogen that frequently causes acute diarrhea in young children?
a. Giardia organisms
b. Shigella organisms
c. Rotavirus
d. Salmonella organisms
ANS: C
, Rotavirus is the most common viral pathogen that causes diarrhea in young children.
Giardia and Salmonella are bacterial pathogens that also cause diarrhea. Shigella is a
bacterial pathogen that is uncommon in Canada.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 1417
OBJ: Nursing Process: Assessment
6. Which is a parasite that causes acute diarrhea?
a. Shigella organisms
b. Salmonella organisms
c. Giardia lamblia
d. Escherichia coli
ANS: C
In Canada, the incidence of intestinal parasitic disease, especially giardiasis, has
increased among young children and causes acute diarrhea. Shigella, Salmonella, and
E. coli are bacterial pathogens, not parasites.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 1417
OBJ: Nursing Process: Assessment
7. A stool specimen from a child with diarrhea shows the presence of neutrophils and red
blood cells. These results are most suggestive of what condition?
a. Protein intolerance
b. Parasitic infection
c. Fat malabsorption
d. Bacterial gastroenteritis
ANS: D
Neutrophils and red blood cells in stool indicate bacterial gastroenteritis. Protein
intolerance is suspected in the presence of eosinophils, as is parasitic infection. Fat
malabsorption is indicated by foul-smelling, greasy, bulky stools.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 1417
OBJ: Nursing Process: Assessment
8. What is the first treatment a nurse provides in the therapeutic management of a child
with acute diarrhea and dehydration?
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Angelicer. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
79978 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now