Chapter 58  Drugs Affecting Gastrointestinal Motility

Chapter 58  Drugs Affecting Gastrointestinal Motility

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1. The nurse teaches the patient to best maintain optimal GI function by including what in the daily
routine?

A) Exercise, adequate sleep, and avoiding caffeine

B) Proper diet, fluid intake, and exercise

C) Proper diet, avoiding alcohol, and cautious use of laxatives

D) Avoiding prescription medications, increased fluid intake, and vigorous exercise

Ans: B

Feedback:

The best way to maintain gastrointestinal (GI) function is through proper diet including optimizing
fiber intake, adequate fluid intake, and exercise, which will stimulate GI activity. Drugs should only be
used when normal function cannot be maintained. Options A, C, and D are not correct.

2. The nurse admits to the clinic a 7-month-old infant whose mother reports that the baby has not had a
bowel movement in 6 days. What drug would be appropriate to treat this patient?

A) Cascara (generic)

B) Magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia)

C) Polyethylene glycol-electrolyte solution (GoLYTELY)

D) Glycerin (Sani-Supp)

Ans: D

Feedback:

Glycerin suppositories are the best choice for infants and young children when constipation is a
problem. The other choices are not recommended for infants or children.

3. The nurse provides drug teaching to the patient who will begin taking polycarbophil (FiberCon). What
is the nurse’s priority teaching point?

A) Do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours after taking the medication.

Test Bank – Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (7th Edition by Amy Karch) 948

B) Drink lots of water when taking the drug.

C) Take at night before bedtime.

D) The drug can be taken up to six times per day.

Ans: B

Feedback:

Patients must take plenty of water with polycarbophil. If only a little water is consumed, the medication
may absorb enough fluid in the esophagus to swell the food into a gelatin-like mass that can cause
obstruction and other severe problems. The drug should be taken no more than four times a day and
should not be taken at night.

4. A new mother required an episiotomy during the birth of her baby. Two days after delivery, the patient
is in need of a laxative. What will be the most effective drug for the nurse to administer?

A) Bisacodyl (Dulcolax)

B) Castor oil (Neolid)

C) Magnesium sulfate (epsom salts)

D) Docusate (Colace)

Ans: D

Feedback:

Docusate is a stool softener that will make expulsion of stool easier in a traumatized body area
following an episiotomy. Care must be taken to choose a mild laxative that will not enter breast milk
and not affect the newborn if the mother is nursing. Docusate is the drug of choice from this list
because it is mild and will produce a soft stool and decrease the need to strain. The other options would
not be appropriate because they do not soften the stool and are harsher laxatives that can enter breast
milk.

5. The nurse, teaching a patient to be discharged with an order to use chemical stimulant laxatives PRN,
instructs the patient that one of the most common adverse effects of this type of laxative is what?

A) Abdominal cramping

B) Rectal bleeding

C) Confusion

D) Iron deficiency anemia

Ans: A

Feedback:

Common adverse effects of laxatives are diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea. Central nervous
system (CNS) adverse effects such as dizziness, headache, and weakness can occur. Rectal bleeding,
confusion, and iron deficiency anemia are not associated with appropriate use of laxatives but may
occur when laxatives are abused.