Gastrointestinal Disorders

What this page covers

This unit sits in the Medical-Surgical Nursing strand of the Nursing subject. The resources follow the digestive tract from top to bottom. Upper tract topics include GERD, peptic ulcer disease, gastritis and upper GI bleeding. Lower tract topics include diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, small bowel obstruction and lower GI bleeding. Liver, gallbladder and pancreas topics are here too.

Where to start

If you want a quick check of what you know, begin with the quiz Upper GI. It opens with a patient who has gastroesophageal reflux disease and asks which statement shows that more teaching is needed. Then try Biliary Disorders, which asks where a nurse should expect pain during an acute episode of cholecystitis.

For a wider view, the quiz Critical Care Questions Chapter 41 starts from a client with chronic constipation and asks what teaching supports normal bowel function.

Using quizzes and maps together

Mind maps are good for seeing a condition as a whole. The map Chronic Pancreatitis is laid out as assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and outcome. The map Diverticulitis_2 lists labs, diagnostics and diet advice. The map Pyloric stenosis1_1 explains the obstruction and what to look for in diagnosis.

1. Take a quiz and note the questions you miss.
2. Open the mind map for that condition.
3. Read the signs, diagnosis, medication and diet branches.
4. Retake the quiz or work through a flashcard deck.

Flashcards, notes and exam wording

The flashcard decks are handy for short repeat sessions. Titles such as Upper GI and Lower GI split the tract in two. There is also a small set of notes, including a note on gastroesophageal reflux made from a mind map. One resource mentions ATI, so you will find material that matches that style of question.

Teachers can pull quizzes and maps straight into a lesson or a study session. Every resource was made by GoConqr users, and each one is free to open.

Next step

Choose one condition you find hard, take its quiz, and see which mind map answers the gaps.