Bowel Elimination Questions and
Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 |
Correct & Verified
Which symptom is a common sign of constipation?
A. Frequent watery stools
✔✔B. Hard, infrequent stools
C. Bright red bleeding
D. Abdominal cramping relieved by defecation
A nurse is teaching a client about fiber intake to promote bowel health. Which food should the
nurse recommend?
A. White bread
B. Cheese
✔✔C. Oatmeal
D. Ice cream
Which medication is most likely to cause constipation?
A. Laxatives
1
,B. Antibiotics
C. Stool softeners
✔✔D. Opioids
A client reports sudden, severe abdominal pain and no bowel movement for 3 days. What is the
nurse’s priority action?
A. Encourage a high-fiber diet
B. Administer a stool softener
✔✔C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
D. Teach the client to drink more fluids
When assessing a client’s stool, which characteristic is normal?
A. Black and tarry
✔✔B. Brown and soft
C. Pale and clay-colored
D. Mucus with blood
Which position helps promote effective bowel elimination during defecation?
2
,A. Supine with legs extended
B. Prone position
✔✔C. Sitting or squatting with knees flexed
D. Left lateral lying
What should the nurse instruct a client to do before collecting a stool specimen for culture?
A. Use laxatives 12 hours prior
B. Collect the first morning urine
✔✔C. Avoid contamination with urine or toilet paper
D. Store the stool in the refrigerator for 24 hours
Which nursing intervention helps prevent constipation in a hospitalized client?
A. Limit fluid intake
✔✔B. Encourage ambulation
C. Restrict fiber
D. Avoid scheduled toileting
A client is prescribed a cleansing enema. How should the nurse position the client?
3
, A. Supine
B. Right lateral
✔✔C. Left lateral Sims’ position
D. High Fowler’s
What is an early sign of fecal impaction?
A. Liquid stool leaking around hard mass
✔✔B. Abdominal fullness and discomfort
C. Absence of bowel sounds
D. Blood in stool
How often should a nurse perform digital removal of stool?
A. Daily regardless of need
✔✔B. Only when impaction is confirmed and ordered
C. Every 2 hours routinely
D. Before every meal
Which factor increases risk for hemorrhoids?
4
Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 |
Correct & Verified
Which symptom is a common sign of constipation?
A. Frequent watery stools
✔✔B. Hard, infrequent stools
C. Bright red bleeding
D. Abdominal cramping relieved by defecation
A nurse is teaching a client about fiber intake to promote bowel health. Which food should the
nurse recommend?
A. White bread
B. Cheese
✔✔C. Oatmeal
D. Ice cream
Which medication is most likely to cause constipation?
A. Laxatives
1
,B. Antibiotics
C. Stool softeners
✔✔D. Opioids
A client reports sudden, severe abdominal pain and no bowel movement for 3 days. What is the
nurse’s priority action?
A. Encourage a high-fiber diet
B. Administer a stool softener
✔✔C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
D. Teach the client to drink more fluids
When assessing a client’s stool, which characteristic is normal?
A. Black and tarry
✔✔B. Brown and soft
C. Pale and clay-colored
D. Mucus with blood
Which position helps promote effective bowel elimination during defecation?
2
,A. Supine with legs extended
B. Prone position
✔✔C. Sitting or squatting with knees flexed
D. Left lateral lying
What should the nurse instruct a client to do before collecting a stool specimen for culture?
A. Use laxatives 12 hours prior
B. Collect the first morning urine
✔✔C. Avoid contamination with urine or toilet paper
D. Store the stool in the refrigerator for 24 hours
Which nursing intervention helps prevent constipation in a hospitalized client?
A. Limit fluid intake
✔✔B. Encourage ambulation
C. Restrict fiber
D. Avoid scheduled toileting
A client is prescribed a cleansing enema. How should the nurse position the client?
3
, A. Supine
B. Right lateral
✔✔C. Left lateral Sims’ position
D. High Fowler’s
What is an early sign of fecal impaction?
A. Liquid stool leaking around hard mass
✔✔B. Abdominal fullness and discomfort
C. Absence of bowel sounds
D. Blood in stool
How often should a nurse perform digital removal of stool?
A. Daily regardless of need
✔✔B. Only when impaction is confirmed and ordered
C. Every 2 hours routinely
D. Before every meal
Which factor increases risk for hemorrhoids?
4
