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DOH Gastrointestinal & Hepatic Nursing Practice Questions
GI questions cover bleeding, obstruction, liver disease and nutrition, with a strong focus on spotting complications early. Below are 5 free sample questions for the DOH Registered Nurse exam, each with the answer and a rationale.
What this topic covers
- GI bleeding signs
- Bowel obstruction and appendicitis
- Cirrhosis, ascites and hepatic encephalopathy
- Hepatitis transmission and prevention
- Pancreatitis and cholecystitis
- Stoma care and nutrition
The full bank has 70 gastrointestinal & hepatic nursing questions, part of 1,500 questions across 16 nursing topics.
Free DOH gastrointestinal & hepatic nursing questions
1. When should a patient usually take a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole for best effect?
- A. At bedtime with milk
- B. About 30–60 minutes before a meal, usually breakfast
- C. Immediately after the largest meal
- D. Only when heartburn occurs
Show answer and rationale
PPIs work best when taken before a meal, because they inhibit proton pumps that are activated by food. Taking them only when symptoms occur is less effective for healing.
Reference: Standard nursing pharmacology – proton pump inhibitors
2. Which is the most common cause of acute upper GI bleeding?
- A. Peptic ulcer disease
- B. Haemorrhoids
- C. Diverticular disease
- D. Anal fissure
Show answer and rationale
Peptic ulcer disease is the most common cause of upper GI bleeding. Haemorrhoids, diverticular disease and fissures cause lower GI bleeding.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – GI bleeding
3. Which is a key nursing intervention in the early management of acute pancreatitis?
- A. Encourage a high-fat diet to stimulate the pancreas
- B. Give intravenous fluids and adequate analgesia while monitoring fluid balance
- C. Restrict all analgesia to allow accurate assessment
- D. Encourage bed rest in the supine position only
Show answer and rationale
Early management focuses on IV fluid resuscitation, pain control and monitoring for complications such as hypovolaemia. Fat stimulates pancreatic secretion and should be limited when eating resumes.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – pancreatitis
4. Which set of findings suggests a small bowel obstruction?
- A. Watery diarrhoea and fever
- B. Painless jaundice and dark urine
- C. Pale stools and itching
- D. Colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension and no passage of stool or flatus
Show answer and rationale
Bowel obstruction causes colicky pain, distension, vomiting (which may be faeculent) and absolute constipation. Early obstruction may produce high-pitched bowel sounds.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – intestinal obstruction
5. After a large-volume paracentesis, which finding should the nurse report immediately?
- A. Mild discomfort at the puncture site
- B. A small amount of clear fluid on the dressing
- C. BP 84/50 mmHg and heart rate 118 beats/min
- D. Reduced abdominal girth
Show answer and rationale
Removal of large volumes of ascitic fluid can cause fluid shifts and hypovolaemia, shown by hypotension and tachycardia. Albumin is often given to prevent this; reduced girth is the expected result.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – paracentesis
Study tip
Signs of shock in a GI patient (rising heart rate, falling blood pressure) point to bleeding and need escalation.
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