320P- ATI Bowel Elimination Questions
and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026
| Correct & Verified
What is the primary muscle group involved in controlling bowel elimination?
✔✔The pelvic floor muscles and the external anal sphincter control bowel elimination.
What dietary component is most important to promote regular bowel movements?
✔✔Dietary fiber increases stool bulk and promotes regular bowel elimination.
What is a common cause of constipation in hospitalized patients?
✔✔Immobility and decreased fluid intake commonly cause constipation in hospitalized patients.
How does opioid medication affect bowel elimination?
✔✔Opioids decrease intestinal motility, often causing constipation.
What is the most appropriate nursing action when a client reports no bowel movement for 3
days?
✔✔Assess for abdominal distention, bowel sounds, and ask about diet and fluid intake.
1
,Why is it important to monitor the color and consistency of stool?
✔✔Changes can indicate infection, bleeding, malabsorption, or gastrointestinal disease.
What is a sign of fecal impaction?
✔✔Continuous leakage of liquid stool around a hard mass.
Which position facilitates easier defecation for most clients?
✔✔Sitting or squatting position aligns the rectum for easier stool passage.
What nursing intervention helps stimulate bowel movement in a client with constipation?
✔✔Encouraging increased oral fluids and providing a high-fiber diet.
How can stress affect bowel elimination?
✔✔Stress can increase intestinal motility, causing diarrhea, or decrease it, causing constipation.
What is an important teaching point for clients using laxatives regularly?
✔✔Overuse can cause dependency and worsen constipation.
2
, What is the normal frequency range for bowel movements in healthy adults?
✔✔From three times a day to three times a week.
What could black, tarry stools indicate?
✔✔Presence of digested blood from upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
What does clay-colored stool suggest?
✔✔Bile duct obstruction or liver dysfunction.
Why is it important to avoid straining during bowel movements?
✔✔Straining increases risk of hemorrhoids and can raise intracranial or intraabdominal pressure.
What is the mechanism of action for stool softeners?
✔✔They increase water content in stool to make it easier to pass.
What type of enema is typically used to relieve constipation quickly?
✔✔A cleansing enema.
3
and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026
| Correct & Verified
What is the primary muscle group involved in controlling bowel elimination?
✔✔The pelvic floor muscles and the external anal sphincter control bowel elimination.
What dietary component is most important to promote regular bowel movements?
✔✔Dietary fiber increases stool bulk and promotes regular bowel elimination.
What is a common cause of constipation in hospitalized patients?
✔✔Immobility and decreased fluid intake commonly cause constipation in hospitalized patients.
How does opioid medication affect bowel elimination?
✔✔Opioids decrease intestinal motility, often causing constipation.
What is the most appropriate nursing action when a client reports no bowel movement for 3
days?
✔✔Assess for abdominal distention, bowel sounds, and ask about diet and fluid intake.
1
,Why is it important to monitor the color and consistency of stool?
✔✔Changes can indicate infection, bleeding, malabsorption, or gastrointestinal disease.
What is a sign of fecal impaction?
✔✔Continuous leakage of liquid stool around a hard mass.
Which position facilitates easier defecation for most clients?
✔✔Sitting or squatting position aligns the rectum for easier stool passage.
What nursing intervention helps stimulate bowel movement in a client with constipation?
✔✔Encouraging increased oral fluids and providing a high-fiber diet.
How can stress affect bowel elimination?
✔✔Stress can increase intestinal motility, causing diarrhea, or decrease it, causing constipation.
What is an important teaching point for clients using laxatives regularly?
✔✔Overuse can cause dependency and worsen constipation.
2
, What is the normal frequency range for bowel movements in healthy adults?
✔✔From three times a day to three times a week.
What could black, tarry stools indicate?
✔✔Presence of digested blood from upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
What does clay-colored stool suggest?
✔✔Bile duct obstruction or liver dysfunction.
Why is it important to avoid straining during bowel movements?
✔✔Straining increases risk of hemorrhoids and can raise intracranial or intraabdominal pressure.
What is the mechanism of action for stool softeners?
✔✔They increase water content in stool to make it easier to pass.
What type of enema is typically used to relieve constipation quickly?
✔✔A cleansing enema.
3
