NCLEX-RN Med-Surg — GI & Neuro flashcards
10 of 71 cards free to study here · 10 topics · the whole deck is built into Willys
GI bleeding, ulcers, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, appendicitis, bowel obstruction, IBD and ostomies, plus increased ICP, the Glasgow Coma Scale, stroke, seizures, spinal cord injury, neuromuscular disease and meningitis.
Learn deck · part of NCLEX-RN · written against: NCSBN 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, in effect from 1 April 2026 (Next Generation NCLEX; client-needs categories and percentages unchanged from 2023, fact-checked 2026-10-11). Updated 2026-10-10.
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What do bright red vomit, coffee-ground vomit, black tarry stool, and bright red rectal bleeding each tell the nurse about a GI bleed?Bright red hematemesis means active upper GI bleeding; coffee-ground emesis is older blood altered by stomach acid; melena (black, sticky stool) usually means an upper GI source; bright red rectal blood usually points to a lower source, or a very brisk upper bleed.GI Bleeding & Ulcers
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Why does a client with cirrhosis develop ascites?Portal hypertension forces fluid out of the abdominal vessels, and low albumin (the failing liver makes less) weakens the pull that keeps fluid in the bloodstream; aldosterone-driven sodium retention adds to it.Liver
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A client has right-upper-quadrant pain radiating to the right shoulder that began after a fatty meal. What does the nurse suspect?Cholecystitis or biliary colic from gallstones. A positive Murphy's sign — the client stops inhaling when the examiner presses under the right costal margin — supports it.Gallbladder & Pancreas
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A client has pain that began around the umbilicus and moved to the right lower quadrant, with nausea and a low-grade fever. What does the nurse suspect, and what should be avoided?Appendicitis. Avoid heat to the abdomen, laxatives, and enemas, which can promote rupture; keep the client NPO and notify the provider.Bowel & Ostomy
Why: heat increases blood flow to the inflamed appendix, and laxatives and enemas raise the pressure inside the bowel. -
What is the earliest and most sensitive sign of increasing intracranial pressure?A change in level of consciousness — new restlessness, confusion, or drowsiness. Pupil changes, vital-sign changes, and posturing come later.Increased ICP & GCS
Why: the cerebral cortex is the most sensitive part of the brain to falling blood flow, so it falters first. -
What does the BE-FAST stroke screen look for?Balance loss, Eyes (sudden vision loss), Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time — call emergency services and note when symptoms began.Stroke
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What does the nurse do during a generalized tonic-clonic seizure?Protect the client from injury and time the seizure: ease them to the floor or lower the bed, move objects away, loosen tight clothing, and turn them to the side when possible.Seizures
Watch out: Never restrain the client or put anything in the mouth. -
A client with a T4 spinal cord injury suddenly has a pounding headache, flushing above the injury, and a blood pressure of 210/110. What is happening, and what does the nurse do first?Autonomic dysreflexia. Sit the client upright with the legs lowered to drop the blood pressure, then find and remove the trigger — first check the bladder (kinked catheter or need to catheterize), then the bowel and tight clothing.Spinal Cord Injury
Watch out: It occurs with injuries at T6 or above. -
What are common early signs of multiple sclerosis?Visual disturbances (blurred or double vision, optic neuritis), numbness or tingling, fatigue, muscle weakness, and balance problems, often in a relapsing-remitting pattern.Neuromuscular Disorders
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A client has fever, a severe headache, a stiff neck, and photophobia. What does the nurse suspect, and which precautions start?Bacterial meningitis. Start droplet precautions (for possible meningococcal disease) until the client has had 24 hours of effective antibiotics, and notify the provider at once.Meningitis
Watch out: antibiotics are not delayed while waiting for a CT or lumbar puncture.
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About these cards
Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- Checked against Open RN Health Alterations (Chippewa Valley Technical College, CC BY 4.0) and MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine); reference only, no text copied.
- OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, consulted as a reference; no text copied.
- Stroke screening cross-checked against American Stroke Association public guidance; meningitis isolation against the CDC Guideline for Isolation Precautions (public domain); hepatitis transmission against CDC viral hepatitis pages (public domain); reference only.
- TIA urgency checked against American Stroke Association guidance; feeding-tube placement against ASPEN guidance; head-injury discharge advice against CDC HEADS UP (public domain); reference only, no text copied.
- Acute pancreatitis care checked against the American College of Gastroenterology guideline on acute pancreatitis (2024); spinal-injury airway against the AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC (2025); reference only, no text copied.
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