Ostomy Care (Exam 3) – 100 Practice Questions
Complete Practice Exam with Correct Answers
and Detailed Explanations LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR PDF
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF OSTOMY CARE (Questions 1-25)
Q1. What is an ostomy?
A) A surgical procedure to remove a portion of the intestine
B) A surgically created opening in the abdominal wall that allows for the
elimination of waste matter
C) A temporary drainage tube placed in the abdomen
D) A surgical procedure to repair the colon
Correct Answer: B. A surgically created opening in the abdominal wall that
allows for the elimination of waste matter
An ostomy is a surgical procedure to create an opening in the abdominal wall,
used to divert bodily output or waste from the normal excretory pathway. A
portion of the bowel is brought through the front of the abdomen to the skin
surface to create a stoma .
Q2. Approximately how many people in the United States live with an ostomy?
,A) 100,000
B) 250,000
C) 725,000 to 1 million
D) 5 million
Correct Answer: C. 725,000 to 1 million
Approximately 725,000 to 1 million people in the United States live with an
ostomy, with about 100,000 ostomy surgeries performed annually .
Q3. What is the definition of a stoma?
A) The surgical opening in the abdominal wall
B) The small portion of bowel inverted on itself ("budded"), exposing the lining, or
mucosa, that is brought through the abdominal wall
C) The pouching system used to collect waste
D) The surgical procedure to create a diversion
Correct Answer: B. The small portion of bowel inverted on itself ("budded"),
exposing the lining, or mucosa, that is brought through the abdominal wall
A stoma is the small portion of bowel that is inverted on itself ("budded"),
exposing the lining, or mucosa. A pouching system fits over the stoma to collect
waste .
Q4. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate referral for a patient being
discharged with a new ostomy?
,A) Home care nurse
B) Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN)
C) Registered dietitian
D) Primary care provider
Correct Answer: B. Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN)
The WOCN is the most important person to contact to schedule teaching sessions
and follow-up care. This nurse specialist is certified in the treatment of patients
who have a bowel or bladder diversion. The contribution of the WOCN is essential
to help the patient achieve competence and comfort with self-care before
discharge .
Q5. A healthy stoma should appear:
A) Pale and dry
B) Red, moist, and protruding approximately 2 cm
C) Dark purple and cool
D) Flat and skin-colored
Correct Answer: B. Red, moist, and protruding approximately 2 cm
The ideal stoma is red, moist, and protrudes approximately 2 cm (0.78 in).
Following surgery, the stoma may appear edematous but it will shrink to a more
permanent size in about six to eight weeks .
, Q6. Which type of ostomy produces stool that is liquid in consistency with a
pungent odor and is located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen?
A) Descending colostomy
B) Ileostomy
C) Ascending colostomy
D) Ureterostomy
Correct Answer: C. Ascending colostomy
An ascending colostomy meets the description of fecal output of liquid consistency
and with a pungent odor, as well as location of the stoma in the upper right
quadrant of the abdomen. Descending colostomies produce increasingly formed
stool, and an ileostomy produces liquid stool but with less odor because enzyme
activity is not present .
Q7. A colostomy created over the sigmoid portion of the colon is located on
which area of the abdomen?
A) Upper right quadrant
B) Lower left side
C) Lower right side
D) Midline
Correct Answer: B. Lower left side
A colostomy can be created anywhere along the large intestine, but the most
common site is over the sigmoid portion, the part of the colon directly above the
rectum, resulting in a stoma on the lower left side of the abdomen .
Complete Practice Exam with Correct Answers
and Detailed Explanations LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR PDF
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF OSTOMY CARE (Questions 1-25)
Q1. What is an ostomy?
A) A surgical procedure to remove a portion of the intestine
B) A surgically created opening in the abdominal wall that allows for the
elimination of waste matter
C) A temporary drainage tube placed in the abdomen
D) A surgical procedure to repair the colon
Correct Answer: B. A surgically created opening in the abdominal wall that
allows for the elimination of waste matter
An ostomy is a surgical procedure to create an opening in the abdominal wall,
used to divert bodily output or waste from the normal excretory pathway. A
portion of the bowel is brought through the front of the abdomen to the skin
surface to create a stoma .
Q2. Approximately how many people in the United States live with an ostomy?
,A) 100,000
B) 250,000
C) 725,000 to 1 million
D) 5 million
Correct Answer: C. 725,000 to 1 million
Approximately 725,000 to 1 million people in the United States live with an
ostomy, with about 100,000 ostomy surgeries performed annually .
Q3. What is the definition of a stoma?
A) The surgical opening in the abdominal wall
B) The small portion of bowel inverted on itself ("budded"), exposing the lining, or
mucosa, that is brought through the abdominal wall
C) The pouching system used to collect waste
D) The surgical procedure to create a diversion
Correct Answer: B. The small portion of bowel inverted on itself ("budded"),
exposing the lining, or mucosa, that is brought through the abdominal wall
A stoma is the small portion of bowel that is inverted on itself ("budded"),
exposing the lining, or mucosa. A pouching system fits over the stoma to collect
waste .
Q4. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate referral for a patient being
discharged with a new ostomy?
,A) Home care nurse
B) Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN)
C) Registered dietitian
D) Primary care provider
Correct Answer: B. Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN)
The WOCN is the most important person to contact to schedule teaching sessions
and follow-up care. This nurse specialist is certified in the treatment of patients
who have a bowel or bladder diversion. The contribution of the WOCN is essential
to help the patient achieve competence and comfort with self-care before
discharge .
Q5. A healthy stoma should appear:
A) Pale and dry
B) Red, moist, and protruding approximately 2 cm
C) Dark purple and cool
D) Flat and skin-colored
Correct Answer: B. Red, moist, and protruding approximately 2 cm
The ideal stoma is red, moist, and protrudes approximately 2 cm (0.78 in).
Following surgery, the stoma may appear edematous but it will shrink to a more
permanent size in about six to eight weeks .
, Q6. Which type of ostomy produces stool that is liquid in consistency with a
pungent odor and is located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen?
A) Descending colostomy
B) Ileostomy
C) Ascending colostomy
D) Ureterostomy
Correct Answer: C. Ascending colostomy
An ascending colostomy meets the description of fecal output of liquid consistency
and with a pungent odor, as well as location of the stoma in the upper right
quadrant of the abdomen. Descending colostomies produce increasingly formed
stool, and an ileostomy produces liquid stool but with less odor because enzyme
activity is not present .
Q7. A colostomy created over the sigmoid portion of the colon is located on
which area of the abdomen?
A) Upper right quadrant
B) Lower left side
C) Lower right side
D) Midline
Correct Answer: B. Lower left side
A colostomy can be created anywhere along the large intestine, but the most
common site is over the sigmoid portion, the part of the colon directly above the
rectum, resulting in a stoma on the lower left side of the abdomen .
