Free Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing MCQs with Answers
50 Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing MCQs from Medical Surgical Nursing, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Covers nursing care for peptic ulcer disease, gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal obstruction, hepatitis, cirrhosis and portal hypertension. It includes nutrition, fluid and electrolyte management, abdominal assessment, gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, which must be distinguished from other causes of altered consciousness.
Last updated
50 questions · page 1 of 3
- A. Place the patient flat and offer oral fluids
- B. Assess the airway, breathing and circulation
- C. Give an antacid and reassess after 30 minutes
- D. Apply a warm compress over the epigastric area
Explanation: Acute hematemesis can cause airway contamination and hypovolaemic shock, so ABC assessment has priority.
Correct answer: Assess the airway, breathing and circulation- A. Begin prescribed intravenous fluid replacement
- B. Offer a full meal with extra dietary fibre
- C. Administer an antidiarrhoeal medicine immediately
- D. Restrict fluids until the diarrhoea settles
Explanation: The findings indicate severe dehydration with circulatory compromise, so rapid prescribed intravenous fluid replacement is the priority.
Correct answer: Begin prescribed intravenous fluid replacement- A. Continuous inflammation beginning at the rectum
- B. Transmural inflammation with skip lesions
- C. Inflammation limited to the colonic mucosa
- D. Frequent bloody diarrhoea with urgency
Explanation: Crohn disease may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract and commonly causes patchy skip lesions with transmural inflammation.
Correct answer: Transmural inflammation with skip lesions- A. Give an oral laxative to stimulate peristalsis
- B. Keep the patient nil by mouth and prepare gastric decompression
- C. Encourage a high-fibre meal and increased oral fluids
- D. Apply a heating pad and massage the abdomen
Explanation: Keeping the patient nil by mouth and preparing prescribed nasogastric decompression reduces further distension and vomiting while the…
Correct answer: Keep the patient nil by mouth and prepare gastric decompression- A. Avoid sharing razors because blood spreads the infection
- B. Use gloves only when administering intravenous medicines
- C. Wash hands carefully after using the toilet and before preparing food
- D. Avoid all contact with household members for six months
Explanation: Hepatitis A mainly spreads by the faecal-oral route, so careful hand hygiene is essential after toileting and before food handling.
Correct answer: Wash hands carefully after using the toilet and before preparing food- A. A potassium level of 5.8 mmol/L
- B. A sodium level of 137 mmol/L
- C. A respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute
- D. A urine output of 1,200 mL in 24 hours
Explanation: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, so a potassium level of 5.8 mmol/L indicates clinically important hyperkalaemia and…
Correct answer: A potassium level of 5.8 mmol/L- A. Give oral water to clear the taste of blood
- B. Position the patient safely and assess the airway
- C. Insert a rectal thermometer to assess perfusion
- D. Encourage ambulation to prevent venous stasis
Explanation: Massive bleeding from oesophageal varices can obstruct the airway and rapidly cause shock, so safe positioning and immediate airway…
Correct answer: Position the patient safely and assess the airway- A. Check capillary blood glucose and oxygen saturation
- B. Ask the patient to eat a high-protein meal
- C. Encourage walking to improve alertness
- D. Give a sedative to control the confusion
Explanation: Hypoglycaemia and hypoxaemia can also cause altered consciousness and must be identified promptly because they threaten basic…
Correct answer: Check capillary blood glucose and oxygen saturation- A. I should stop it whenever my stools become soft
- B. I should expect several soft stools each day
- C. I should restrict all fluids while taking this medicine
- D. I should take extra sedatives if confusion returns
Explanation: Lactulose lowers intestinal ammonia absorption and is adjusted to produce several soft stools daily, not severe diarrhoea.
Correct answer: I should expect several soft stools each day- A. Hypercalcaemia caused by fluid loss
- B. Hypokalaemia caused by gastrointestinal losses
- C. Hypermagnesaemia caused by poor absorption
- D. Hypernatraemia caused by excessive potassium loss
Explanation: Diarrhoea commonly causes potassium loss, producing weakness, muscle cramps and ECG changes such as flattened T waves.
Correct answer: Hypokalaemia caused by gastrointestinal losses- A. A proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole
- B. An antacid alone such as magnesium hydroxide
- C. A bulk-forming laxative such as psyllium
- D. An antidiarrhoeal such as loperamide
Explanation: A proton pump inhibitor suppresses gastric acid and is combined with prescribed antibiotics to eradicate H. pylori.
Correct answer: A proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole- A. I will take frequent small sips of oral rehydration solution
- B. I will drink only plain water until the diarrhoea stops
- C. I will avoid fluids for several hours after each loose stool
- D. I will use concentrated fruit juice to replace lost fluid
Explanation: Frequent small amounts of oral rehydration solution replace water and electrolytes and are usually better tolerated than large volumes.
Correct answer: I will take frequent small sips of oral rehydration solution- A. Toxic megacolon
- B. Paralytic ileus
- C. Acute appendicitis
- D. Simple constipation
Explanation: Fever, abdominal distension, tenderness and systemic toxicity in ulcerative colitis suggest toxic megacolon, a life-threatening dilation…
Correct answer: Toxic megacolon- A. Measure and document the drainage regularly
- B. Clamp the tube after every episode of nausea
- C. Flush the tube routinely with a large volume of water
- D. Place the patient flat to improve abdominal drainage
Explanation: The nurse measures drainage, assesses its colour and amount, and monitors fluid and electrolyte losses.
Correct answer: Measure and document the drainage regularly- A. Through infected blood and sexual contact
- B. Through sharing cooked food with an infected person
- C. Through mosquito bites in a crowded area
- D. Through inhaling droplets from a coughing patient
Explanation: Hepatitis B spreads through infected blood and body fluids, including sexual exposure and contaminated needles or instruments.
Correct answer: Through infected blood and sexual contact- A. Measure body weight at the same time each day
- B. Limit all oral fluids without a prescription
- C. Massage swollen legs vigorously every shift
- D. Use urine colour alone to estimate fluid balance
Explanation: Daily weight taken under consistent conditions is a sensitive measure of changes in total body fluid.
Correct answer: Measure body weight at the same time each day- A. Check the apical pulse and blood pressure
- B. Check the pupil reaction and visual acuity
- C. Check bowel sounds and abdominal girth
- D. Check skin turgor and oral temperature
Explanation: Propranolol lowers heart rate and blood pressure, so the nurse checks the pulse and blood pressure and follows the prescribed hold…
Correct answer: Check the apical pulse and blood pressure- A. Fresh fruit with unsalted rice
- B. Canned soup with salted crackers
- C. Pickled vegetables with processed meat
- D. Instant noodles with a seasoning packet
Explanation: Fresh fruit and unsalted rice are naturally low in sodium and fit a sodium-restricted diet.
Correct answer: Fresh fruit with unsalted rice- A. Assess blood pressure, pulse and mental status
- B. Offer a high-fibre meal to prevent constipation
- C. Administer an oral iron tablet with juice
- D. Encourage walking to stimulate bowel activity
Explanation: Black tarry stool may indicate upper gastrointestinal bleeding, so circulation and neurological status must be assessed first.
Correct answer: Assess blood pressure, pulse and mental status- A. Semi-Fowler position with the legs supported
- B. Supine position with the legs kept flat
- C. Prone position with the abdomen unsupported
- D. Trendelenburg position with the head lowered
Explanation: Semi-Fowler positioning improves lung expansion and supporting the legs may reduce dependent oedema while the patient is assessed.
Correct answer: Semi-Fowler position with the legs supportedGastrointestinal and Liver Nursing MCQs: common questions
Are these Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing MCQs free?
Yes. All Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing MCQs from Medical Surgical Nursing are free on TestUstad, with unlimited attempts and no account needed. Nothing on this page is a sample or a trial.
How many Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing MCQs are on this page?
There are 50 Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing MCQs in the Medical Surgical Nursing bank, shown ten to a page with the correct answer and an explanation on each.
Does every Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing MCQ have an explanation?
Yes. Each Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing question shows the correct option and a written explanation of why it is correct, so a wrong answer teaches you something rather than just being marked wrong.
Can I take a timed Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing test?
Yes. The practice button on this page starts a free Gastrointestinal and Liver Nursing test drawn from the Medical Surgical Nursing bank. It marks each answer instantly, gives you a score at the end, and can be retaken as many times as you like.