A nurse is providing dietary teaching for a client who has chronic pancreatitis

This is a quiz that contains NCLEX review questions for pancreatitis (acute and chronic). As a nurse providing care to a patient with pancreatitis, it is important to know the signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, nursing management, diet education, and complications.

In the previous NCLEX review series, I explained about other GI disorders you may be asked about on the NCLEX exam, so be sure to check out those reviews and quizzes as well.

Pancreatitis NCLEX Questions

This quiz will test your knowledge on acute and chronic pancreatitis in preparation for the NCLEX exam.

• 1. Inside the pancreas are special cells that secrete digestive enzymes and hormones. The cells that secrete digestive enzymes are known as ______________ cells.*
  • A. Islet of Langerhans
  • B. Protease
  • C. Acinar
  • D. Amylase

• 2. From the pancreas and gallbladder, the common bile duct and pancreatic duct open into the ____________ where digestive enzymes and bile flow into the duodenum via the major duodenal papilla which is surrounded by a muscular valve that controls the release of digestive enzymes known as the ______________.*
  • A. ampulla of vater, sphincter of Oddi
  • B. papilla of vater, sphincter of Oddi
  • C. minor duodenal papilla, ampulla of vater
  • D. jejunum, sphincter of pylori

• 3. Select-ALL-that-apply: In the pancreas, the acinar cells release:*
  • A. Amylase
  • B. Somatostatin
  • C. Lipase
  • D. Protease

• 4. You're caring for a 45 year old patient who is admitted with suspected acute pancreatitis. The patient reports having extreme mid-epigastric pain that radiates to the back. The patient states the pain started last night after eating fast food. As the nurse, you know the two most common causes of acute pancreatitis are:*
  • A. High cholesterol and alcohol abuse
  • B. History of diabetes and smoking
  • C. Pancreatic cancer and obesity
  • D. Gallstones and alcohol abuse

• 5. Which patient below is at MOST risk for CHRONIC pancreatitis?*
  • A. A 25 year old female with a family history of gallstones.
  • B. A 35 year old male who reports social drinking of alcohol.
  • C. A 15 year old female with cystic fibrosis.
  • D. A 66 year old female with stomach cancer.

• 6. Your patient with acute pancreatitis is scheduled for a test that will use a scope to assess the pancreas, bile ducts, and gallbladder. The patient asks you, "What is the name of the test I’m going for later today?" You tell the patient it is called:*
  • A. MRCP
  • B. ERCP
  • C. CT scan of the abdomen
  • D. EGD

• 7. A patient is admitted to the ER with the following signs and symptoms: very painful mid-epigastric pain felt in the back, elevated glucose, fever, and vomiting. During the head-to-toe assessment, you notice bluish discoloration around the belly button. As the nurse, you know this is called?*
  • A. Grey-Turner's Sign
  • B. McBurney's Sign
  • C. Homan's Sign
  • D. Cullen's Sign

• 8. While assisting a patient with chronic pancreatitis to the bathroom, you note the patient's stool to be oily/greasy in appearance. In your documentation you note this as:*
  • A. Steatorrhea
  • B. Melena
  • C. Currant
  • D. Hematochezia

• 9. A patient with acute pancreatitis is reporting excessive thirst, excessive voiding, and blurred vision. As the nurse, it is priority you?*
  • A. Reassure the patient this is normal with pancreatitis
  • B. Check the patient's blood glucose
  • C. Assist the patient with drinking a simple sugar drink like orange juice
  • D. Provide a dark and calm environment

• 10. A patient who received treatment for pancreatitis is being discharged home. You're providing diet teaching to the patient. Which statement by the patient requires immediate re-education about the diet restrictions?*
  • A. "It will be hard but I will eat a diet low in fat and avoid greasy foods."
  • B. "It is very important I limit my alcohol intake to no more than 2-3 glasses of wine a week."
  • C. "I will concentrate on eating complex carbohydrates rather than refined carbohydrates."
  • D. "I will purchase foods that are high in protein."

• 11. The physician orders a patient with pancreatitis to take a pancreatic enzyme. What assessment finding demonstrates the pancreatic enzymes are working properly?*
  • A. Abdominal girth is decreased
  • B. Skin turgor is less than 2 seconds
  • C. Blood glucose is 250
  • D. Stools appear formed and solid

• 12. During a home health visit, you are assessing how a patient takes the prescribed pancreatic enzyme. The patient is unable to swallow the capsule whole, so they open the capsule and mix the beads inside the capsule with food/drink. Which food or drink is safe for the patient to mix the beads with?*
  • A. Pudding
  • B. Ice cream
  • C. Milk
  • D. Applesauce

(NOTE: When you hit submit, it will refresh this same page. Scroll down to see your results.)

1. Inside the pancreas are special cells that secrete digestive enzymes and hormones. The cells that secrete digestive enzymes are known as ______________ cells.

A. Islet of Langerhans

B. Protease

C. Acinar

D. Amylase

2. From the pancreas and gallbladder, the common bile duct and pancreatic duct open into the ____________ where digestive enzymes and bile flow through the duodenum via the major duodenal papilla which is surrounded by a muscular valve that controls the release of digestive enzymes known as the ______________.

A. ampulla of vater, sphincter of Oddi

B. papilla of vater, sphincter of Oddi

C. minor duodenal papilla, ampulla of vater

D. jejunum, sphincter of pylori

3. Select-ALL-that-apply: In the pancreas, the acinar cells release:

A. Amylase

B. Somatostatin

C. Lipase

D. Protease

4. You’re caring for a 45 year old patient who is admitted with suspected acute pancreatitis. The patient reports having extreme mid-epigastric pain that radiates to the back. The patient states the pain started last night after eating fast food. As the nurse, you know the two most common causes of acute pancreatitis are:

A. High cholesterol and alcohol abuse

B. History of diabetes and smoking

C. Pancreatic cancer and obesity

D. Gallstones and alcohol abuse

5. Which patient below is at MOST risk for CHRONIC pancreatitis?

A. A 25 year old female with a family history of gallstones.

B. A 35 year old male who reports social drinking of alcohol.

C. A 15 year old female with cystic fibrosis.

D. A 66 year old female with stomach cancer.

6. Your patient with acute pancreatitis is scheduled for a test that will use a scope to assess the pancreas, bile ducts, and gallbladder. The patient asks you, “What is the name of the test I’m going for later today?” You tell the patient it is called:

A. MRCP

B. ERCP

C. CT scan of the abdomen

D. EGD

7. A patient is admitted to the ER with the following signs and symptoms: very painful mid-epigastric pain felt in the back, elevated glucose, fever, and vomiting. During the head-to-toe assessment, you notice bluish discoloration around the belly button. As the nurse, you know this is called?

A. Grey-Turner’s Sign

B. McBurney’s Sign

C. Homan’s Sign

D. Cullen’s Sign

8. While assisting a patient with chronic pancreatitis to the bathroom, you note the patient’s stool to be oily/greasy in appearance. In your documentation you note this as:

A. Steatorrhea

B. Melena

C. Currant

D. Hematochezia

9. A patient with acute pancreatitis is reporting excessive thirst, excessive voiding, and blurred vision. As the nurse, it is priority you?

A. Reassure the patient this is normal with pancreatitis

B. Check the patient’s blood glucose

C. Assist the patient with drinking a simple sugar drink like orange juice

D. Provide a dark and calm environment

10. A patient who received treatment for pancreatitis is being discharged home. You’re providing diet teaching to the patient. Which statement by the patient requires immediate re-education about the diet restrictions?

A. “It will be hard but I will eat a diet low in fat and avoid greasy foods.”

B. “It is very important I limit my alcohol intake to no more than 2-3 glasses of wine a week.”

C. “I will concentrate on eating complex carbohydrates rather than refined carbohydrates.”

D. “I will purchase foods that are high in protein.”

11. The physician orders a patient with pancreatitis to take a pancreatic enzyme. What assessment finding demonstrates the pancreatic enzymes are working properly?

A. Abdominal girth is decreased

B. Skin turgor is less than 2 seconds

C. Blood glucose is 250

D. Stools appear formed and solid

12. During a home health visit, you are assessing how a patient takes the prescribed pancreatic enzyme. The patient is unable to swallow the capsule whole, so they open the capsule and mix the beads inside the capsule with food/drink. Which food or drink is safe for the patient to mix the beads with?

A. Pudding

B. Ice cream

C. Milk

D. Applesauce

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