ANS: B
Gaviscon should be taken with food in the stomach. It can be taken with meals at any time. Its mechanism of action is not to decrease stomach acid.
ANS: D
The drainage in the NG tube should initially be brown with old blood. The presence of bright red blood indi- cates bleeding. The nurse should take a set of vital signs to assess for shock and then notify the surgeon. Docu- mentation should occur but is not the rst thing the nurse should do. The nurse should not wait an additional hour to reassess.
ANS: A
Nutritional and lifestyle changes need to continue after surgery as the procedure does not oer a lifetime cure. The other statements show good understanding.
ANS: B
All these assessment ndings are positive for this client. However, this client is at high risk for aspiration. Clear lungs after eating indicates no aspiration has occurred. Choosing easy-to-swallow foods, performing swallowing checks, and having an unchanged weight do not assess aspiration, and therefore do not indicate that the priori- ty goal has been met.
ANS: B
Esophageal dilation can provide immediate relief of esophageal strictures that impair swallowing. Enteral tube feeding is a method of providing nutrition when dysphagia is severe, but esophageal dilation would be attempt- ed before this measure is taken. Nissen fundoplication is performed for severe gastroesophageal re ux dis- ease. Photodynamic therapy is performed for esophageal cancer.
ANS: B
Clients facing this long, dicult procedure are often anxious and fearful. The nurse should now assess the client’s psychosocial status and provide the care and teaching required based on this assessment. An intensive care unit tour may help decrease stress but is too limited in scope to be the best response. Documentation should be thorough, but the nurse needs to do more than document. The client should begin nutritional sup- plements prior to the operation, but again this response is too limited in scope.
7.A client is 1 day postoperative after having Zenker’s diverticula removed. The client has a nasogastric (NG) tube to suction, and for the last 4 hours there has been no drainage. There are no speci c care orders for the NG tube in place. What action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Document the ndings as normal.
b. Irrigate the NG tube with sterile saline.
c. Notify the surgeon about this nding.
d. Remove and reinsert the NG tube.
ANS: C
NG tubes placed during surgery should not be irrigated or moved unless prescribed by the surgeon. The nurse should notify the surgeon about this nding. Documentation is important, but this nding is not normal.
7.A client is 1 day postoperative after having Zenker’s diverticula removed. The client has a nasogastric (NG) tube to suction, and for the last 4 hours there has been no drainage. There are no speci c care orders for the NG tube in place. What action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Document the ndings as normal.
b. Irrigate the NG tube with sterile saline.
c. Notify the surgeon about this nding.
d. Remove and reinsert the NG tube.
ANS: C
NG tubes placed during surgery should not be irrigated or moved unless prescribed by the surgeon. The nurse should notify the surgeon about this nding. Documentation is important, but this nding is not normal.
ANS: A
The priorities of care are airway, breathing, and circulation. The priority option is to assess oxygenation. This oc- curs before diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The client needs two large-bore IVs as a trauma client, but oxygenation comes rst.
ANS: C
The client should be able to turn his or her head to prevent pulling the tube out with movement. The other ac- tions are appropriate.
ANS: B
To avoid exposure to blood and body uids, the nurse rst puts on a pair of gloves. Taking vital signs and noti- fying the surgeon are also appropriate, but the nurse must protect himself or herself rst. The surgeon will reinsert the NG tube either at the bedside or in surgery if the client needs to go back to the operating room.
ANS: C
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor used in the treatment of GERD. Famotidine and ranitidine are histamine blockers. Maalox is an antacid.
12.After hiatal hernia repair surgery, a client is on IV pantoprazole (Protonix). The client asks the nurse why this medication is given since there is no history of ulcers. What response by the nurse is best?
a. “Bacteria can often cause ulcers.”
b. “This operation often causes ulcers.”
“The medication keeps your blood pH low.” d. “It prevents stress-related ulcers.”
ANS: D
After surgery, anti-ulcer medications such as pantoprazole are often given to prevent stress-related ulcers. The other responses are incorrect.
ANS: C
The client who had an esophagectomy has a respiratory rate of 32/min, which is an early sign of sepsis; this client needs to be assessed rst. The client who underwent diverticula removal has a pulse that is out of the normal range (106/min), but not terribly so. The client reporting pain needs pain medication, but the client with the elevated respiratory rate needs investigation rst. The nurse should see the client who had esophageal dila- tion prior to and during the rst attempt at oral feedings, but this can wait until the other clients are cared for.
ANS: A, B, C, D
Many factors predispose a person to GERD, including delayed gastric emptying, eating large meals, hiatal her- nia, and obesity. Viral infections are not implicated in the development of GERD, although infection with Heli- cobacter pylori is.
ANS: A, B, D
The UAP can assist with mobility, keep the head of the bed elevated, and take and record vital signs. The client needs to use the spirometer every 1 to 2 hours. The nurse titrates oxygen.
ANS: A, B, C, D
Malnutrition is a serious problem after this procedure. The client needs high-protein, high-calorie foods that are easy to chew and swallow. The Boost supplement, Greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, and whole milk shake are all good choices. The whole wheat bread, while heart healthy, is not a good choice as it is dry and not easy to chew and swallow.
ANS: A, B, C, D
Lifestyle modications can help control GERD and include losing weight if needed; avoiding chocolate, caeine, and carbonated beverages; eating frequent small meals or snacks; and remaining upright after meals. Tobacco is a risk factor for GERD and should be avoided in all forms.
ANS: B, C, D
Common signs of esophageal disorders include dysphagia, eructation, halitosis, and weight loss. Aphasia is di culty with speech, commonly seen after stroke.
ANS: A, C, D, E
Chocolate, citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit, peppermint and spearmint, and tomato-based products all contribute to the reux associated with GERD. Caeinated teas, coee, and sodas should be avoided.