Patients recovering from lower bowel surgery, such as small bowel resection, must adhere to a low-residue diet to minimize intestinal activity. A low-residue diet includes white breads, cereals, and pastas, well-cooked vegetables without skins, fresh fruits without peels or seeds, tender and well-cooked meats, limited dairy, meat broths and strained soups, and clear juices. The patient must avoid high-residue foods, including whole-grain breads such as corn bread, strong cheeses and yogurt, raw vegetables, dried fruits or legumes, juices with pulp, coffee or other caffeinated beverages, popcorn, nuts, and seeds.

Soda intake exacerbates symptoms of GERD. Along with this, individuals should wear loose clothing, exercise regularly, drink plenty of fluids, avoid eating within 1-2 hours of bed time, and avoid spicy and acidic foods. 

Hepatitis C is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the US. Approximately 3.9 million Americans have antibodies against the virus. Of those, approximately 70% (2.7 million) have chronic hepatitis C infections.

Prolactinomas (prolactin-secreting) make up 30% of functional pituitary adenomas. The second most common type are somatotrophic (growth hormone-secreting) adenomas, which make up 15%, followed by gonadotrophic (gonadotrophin-releasing) adenomas, which make up 10% of reported cases. Null cell adenomas are non functional (they do not secrete hormones).

A cardiac workup on a patient with hyperthyroidism will often reveal high cardiac output, tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, a prominent (fourth heart sound) S4, and flow murmurs. This condition is not associated with low cardiac output and while it may be seen with murmurs it is not specifically associated with atrial stenosis.

A hemoglobin A1c level of 6.5% or greater is considered diagnostic of type II diabetes. A HgA1c level of less than 6.5% does not exclude a diagnosis of diabetes, however, and should be looked at alongside fasting blood glucose and oral glucose tolerance testing.

Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Graves disease is an autoimmune condition in which antibody is produced against the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor, which binds to receptors, resulting in continuous stimulation of the gland to synthesize and secrete excess quantities of the thyroid hormones T4 and T3. Thyroid storm and toxic nodular goiter are less common causes of elevated thyroid hormone levels. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. 

The most common manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism is elevated serum calcium. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) activates osteoclasts, which mobilize calcium and phosphate from bone. PTH also increases renal tubular absorption of calcium and inhibits the reabsorption of phosphate, resulting in elevated blood calcium levels while maintaining normal phosphate levels. High PTH has no significant direct effect on potassium levels.

Painful muscle cramps and tremors are associated with low calcium levels which is indicative of hypoparathyroidism. All the other choices are associated with high calcium levels and therefore are symptoms associated with hyperparathyroidism.

The acidic pH is what is most consistent with the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). A pH of less than 7.30 is what is seen in DKA. The blood glucose will be elevated but the nurse may also see a similar elevation in hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome as well. The serum bicarbonte will be low and the serum osmolality would be elevated, yet both findings are not specific for DKA. Elevated BUN (blood urea nitrogen) is not specific for DKA as well.