The nurse is collecting data for a patient with cholelithiasis who is found to have clay-colored stools. Which of these does the nurse recognize is the most common cause of clay-colored stools?

The nurse is caring for a patient on who has a vented nasogastric tube ordered “to suction” after a gastrectomy. What type of suction should the nurse use to decrease the development of complications?

The nurse is caring for a patient who has a nasogastric tube in place following gastric surgery. To irrigate the nasogastric tube, the nurse uses normal saline. What is the appropriate rationale for this?

A patient with a colostomy says, “My pouch blows up like a balloon when I pass gas.” What is an appropriate response by the nurse?

The nurse is caring for a patient who has liver failure and esophageal varices. The patient is to receive vasopressin (Pitressin) for which of the following purposes?

The nurse is caring for a patient who has an absorption disorder. What term would the nurse use to document fat in the patient’s stool?

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with a possible bowel obstruction. The nurse would be most concerned by which of the following symptoms?

The nurse is caring for a patient who has chronic liver failure. Which of the following medication orders should the nurse question?

The nurse is caring for a patient on a gastrointestinal unit. The nurse would be most concerned if a patient reported which of the following?

A patient is scheduled for an ileostomy for Crohn’s disease that has been uncontrolled with conservative treatment. The patient asks the nurse what it means to have an ileostomy. Which of the following responses by the nurse is best?