Your patient complains of lower abdominal pain, anorexia, extreme fatigue, unintentional weight loss of 10 pounds in last 3 weeks, and you find a positive hemoccult on digital rectal examination. Laboratory tests show iron deficiency anemia
The clinician needs to consider:
A. Diverticulitis
B. Appendicitis
C. Colon cancer
D. Peptic ulcer disease
ANS: C
A positive hemoccult on rectal examination may indicate an upper GI bleed or malignancy. Malignancy should also be suspected if there is weight loss and/or a palpable abdominal mass.
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While working for a neurologist who is assessing a patient experiencing restless legs syndrome (RLS), the nurse should be prepared to answer the question about why the patient needs to have his iron level drawn?
The nurse response should include, A) "Many of the drugs we give for RLS can cause drastic decreases in your iron level." B) "Many patients with RLS also have an iron deficiency anemia as well." C) "You just look a little pale, and so we want to make sure you have normal blood levels." D) "People with low iron levels do not have enough oxygen circulating to their legs."
The nurse case manager has agreed to become a coach for a client with ADHD. Responsibilities of
the coach should include a. reminding the client of priorities and deadlines. b. teaching work-related skills such as basic math. c. establishing penalties for failure to organize tasks. d. giving encouragement and strategies for managing and organizing.
The three areas of the gastrointestinal system in which the digestion of food occurs include the mouth, stomach, and:
1. large intestine. 2. small intestine. 3. pancreas. 4. pharynx.
A neonatal nurse teaches students how to recognize gastrointestinal disorders in infants. The nurse tells the students that failure of the newborn to pass meconium in the first 24 hours after birth may indicate what disease?
What will be an ideal response?