Gastrointestinal SCAQ

1. What is the first step in an abdominal assessment?
   A) Palpation
   B) Percussion
   C) Inspection
   D) Auscultation

2. Which of the following is NOT part of a patient’s abdominal health history?
   A) Chief complaint
   B) Blood pressure measurement
   C) Past medical history
   D) Family history

3. The S.O.C.R.A.T.E.S. pain assessment tool is used to evaluate:
   A) Nutritional intake
   B) Abdominal pain
   C) Bowel sounds
   D) Skin color

4. Which of the following is a type of abdominal pain?
   A) Referred pain
   B) Localized pain
   C) Radiating pain
   D) All of the above

5. Before performing an abdominal assessment, the nurse should ensure:
   A) The patient has an empty bladder
   B) The room is noisy and warm
   C) The patient is seated upright
   D) The nurse stands on the patient’s left side

6. Which patient position is best for an abdominal examination?
   A) Supine with knees slightly flexed
   B) Sitting upright
   C) Prone with arms folded
   D) Side-lying position

7. Why is auscultation performed before palpation in an abdominal assessment?
   A) To check for heart sounds first
   B) To avoid altering bowel sounds
   C) To detect organ enlargement
   D) To ensure accurate blood pressure measurement

8. Which of the following is considered a normal bowel sound frequency?
   A) 1-4 per minute
   B) 5-30 per minute
   C) 40-50 per minute
   D) No bowel sounds are normal

9. Hyperactive bowel sounds (borborygmi) are commonly associated with:
   A) Normal digestion
   B) Bowel obstruction
   C) Peritonitis
   D) Paralytic ileus

10. If bowel sounds are absent, the nurse should listen for at least:
    A) 5 seconds
    B) 30 seconds
    C) 1 minute
    D) 5 minutes

11. Which instrument is used to auscultate bowel and vascular sounds?
    A) Reflex hammer
    B) Thermometer
    C) Stethoscope
    D) Otoscope

12. Auscultation of the abdomen for vascular sounds should be performed over how many areas?
    A) 3
    B) 5
    C) 7
    D) 10

13. A bruit is an abnormal sound caused by:
    A) Normal digestion
    B) Air movement in the intestines
    C) Turbulent blood flow in an artery
    D) Fluid accumulation in the lungs

14. What does percussion help to determine in an abdominal assessment?
    A) Liver size
    B) Presence of fluid or air
    C) Organ density
    D) All of the above

15. Which sound is normally heard over the stomach during percussion?
    A) Dullness
    B) Hyper-resonance
    C) Tympany
    D) Flatness

16. Dullness during percussion over the abdomen may indicate:
    A) Gas in the intestines
    B) Liver enlargement
    C) Normal bowel function
    D) Hyperactive digestion

17. What is the normal liver span measured by percussion?
    A) 3-6 cm
    B) 6-12 cm
    C) 12-18 cm
    D) 18-24 cm

18. Which method is used to palpate the liver?
    A) Hook method
    B) Ballottement
    C) Indirect percussion
    D) Diaphragmatic excursion

19. Which abdominal assessment technique is typically performed last?
    A) Inspection
    B) Palpation
    C) Auscultation
    D) Percussion

20. Deep palpation of the abdomen is used to assess:
    A) Superficial skin texture
    B) Bowel sounds
    C) Organ size and masses
    D) Patient’s reflexes

21. Which of the following is NOT a cause of abdominal distension?
    A) Gas accumulation
    B) Full bladder
    C) Ear infection
    D) Tumors

22. What condition is associated with fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity?
    A) Hernia
    B) Ascites
    C) Bowel obstruction
    D) Appendicitis

23. A fluid wave test is used to diagnose:
    A) Ascites
    B) Hernia
    C) Gallstones
    D) Appendicitis

24. McBurney’s point tenderness is an indicator of:
    A) Liver disease
    B) Appendicitis
    C) Kidney infection
    D) Gastric reflux

25. What does Rovsing’s sign indicate?
    A) Enlarged spleen
    B) Appendicitis
    C) Liver cirrhosis
    D) Hernia

26. Which of the following is NOT a normal finding in an abdominal inspection?
    A) Symmetric contour
    B) Visible peristalsis in a thin patient
    C) Jaundice
    D) Normal umbilical position

27. Which abdominal vascular sound is considered abnormal?
    A) Bruit
    B) Borborygmi
    C) Vesicular breath sounds
    D) Normal bowel clicks

28. Striae (stretch marks) on the abdomen may indicate:
    A) Liver enlargement
    B) Previous weight changes
    C) Gastric ulcer
    D) Normal peristalsis

29. Which condition is associated with an everted umbilicus?
    A) Gallstones
    B) Bowel obstruction
    C) Ascites
    D) Gastritis

30. A positive Murphy’s sign suggests:
    A) Appendicitis
    B) Cholecystitis
    C) Peptic ulcer
    D) Hepatitis

31. An abdominal aneurysm may present with:
    A) Hyperactive bowel sounds
    B) Visible pulsations
    C) Soft, non-tender abdomen
    D) Fluid wave

32. Which abdominal structure is percussed to assess shifting dullness?
    A) Spleen
    B) Stomach
    C) Liver
    D) Peritoneal cavity

33. Where is rebound tenderness most commonly assessed?
    A) Right lower quadrant
    B) Left upper quadrant
    C) Midline of the abdomen
    D) Right upper quadrant

34. Hepatomegaly refers to:
    A) Enlarged spleen
    B) Enlarged liver
    C) Enlarged kidney
    D) Enlarged stomach

35. A positive Psoas sign is seen in:
    A) Appendicitis
    B) Pancreatitis
    C) Gastritis
    D) Cholecystitis

Answer Key

1 C | 2. B | 3. B | 4. D | 5. A | 6. A | 7. B | 8. B | 9. B | 10. D

11 C | 12. C | 13. C | 14. D | 15. C | 16. B | 17. B | 18. A | 19. B | 20. C

21 C | 22. B | 23. A | 24. B | 25. B | 26. C | 27. A | 28. B | 29. C | 30. B

31 B | 32. D | 33. A | 34. B | 35. A