Free BCEN Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) Practice Question

Melena, or black, tarry stools, is most characteristic of an upper GI bleed as it indicates the digestion of blood in the gastrointestinal tract. Bright red blood in the stool or hematochezia typically indicates a lower GI bleed. Coffee ground emesis suggests the presence of digested blood, usually from an upper GI source, but is less common than melena. Abdominal pain can be associated with multiple causes and is not specific to GI bleeds.