FPCC – Jacobs – LCON – Bowel Elimination – 2026 –
Nursing Lecture Notes and Study Guide
Defecation - correct answer ✔✔ Process by which the bowl eliminates waste
Valsalva maneuver - correct answer ✔✔ Contraction of abdominal muscles (straining) while
maintaining closed airway
Because of increased pressure within the abdominal cavity, raises blood pressure
Dangers of Valsalva maneuver - correct answer ✔✔ Glaucoma
Increased cranial pressure
Complicates heart disease (increased BP)
Abdominal wound complications
Arrhythmias
"Normal" bowel elimination - correct answer ✔✔ Multiple times a day/once a week
Without excessive urgency
Minimal effort without laxative use
Formed semisolid
Changes in consistency of stool - correct answer ✔✔ Time spent in colon and water reabsorbed
Gray is associated with gallbladder problems
Black could be blood or Pepto-Bismol or iron
Mucus could indicate infection
Bright red blood indicates a lower G.I. bleed
, How much dietary fiber should be in the daily diet? - correct answer ✔✔ Five servings
Changes caused by dietary supplements - correct answer ✔✔ Constipation can be caused by
calcium or iron
Diarrhea can be caused by magnesium and vitamin C
Fluids that cause changes in bowel elimination - correct answer ✔✔ Excessive intake of sugary
fluids causes soft stool/runny
Milk can cause constipation
Coffee increases peristalsis
Medications that slow peristalsis - correct answer ✔✔ Antacids, iron, pain medications,
antimotility drugs
Medications that increase peristalsis - correct answer ✔✔ Antibiotics, laxatives
Bulking agents' action - correct answer ✔✔ Fiber attracts fluid into the colon, and the increased
bulk of the stool stimulates the urge to evacuate
Action of stool softeners - correct answer ✔✔ Enable moisture and fat to penetrate the stool,
thereby softening it and making it easier to pass.
Action of lubricants - correct answer ✔✔ Coat the stool in the G.I. tract with a thin waterproof
layer.
Action of osmotic laxatives - correct answer ✔✔ Work by drawing water into the bowel from
surrounding tissue, resulting in bowel distention
Nursing Lecture Notes and Study Guide
Defecation - correct answer ✔✔ Process by which the bowl eliminates waste
Valsalva maneuver - correct answer ✔✔ Contraction of abdominal muscles (straining) while
maintaining closed airway
Because of increased pressure within the abdominal cavity, raises blood pressure
Dangers of Valsalva maneuver - correct answer ✔✔ Glaucoma
Increased cranial pressure
Complicates heart disease (increased BP)
Abdominal wound complications
Arrhythmias
"Normal" bowel elimination - correct answer ✔✔ Multiple times a day/once a week
Without excessive urgency
Minimal effort without laxative use
Formed semisolid
Changes in consistency of stool - correct answer ✔✔ Time spent in colon and water reabsorbed
Gray is associated with gallbladder problems
Black could be blood or Pepto-Bismol or iron
Mucus could indicate infection
Bright red blood indicates a lower G.I. bleed
, How much dietary fiber should be in the daily diet? - correct answer ✔✔ Five servings
Changes caused by dietary supplements - correct answer ✔✔ Constipation can be caused by
calcium or iron
Diarrhea can be caused by magnesium and vitamin C
Fluids that cause changes in bowel elimination - correct answer ✔✔ Excessive intake of sugary
fluids causes soft stool/runny
Milk can cause constipation
Coffee increases peristalsis
Medications that slow peristalsis - correct answer ✔✔ Antacids, iron, pain medications,
antimotility drugs
Medications that increase peristalsis - correct answer ✔✔ Antibiotics, laxatives
Bulking agents' action - correct answer ✔✔ Fiber attracts fluid into the colon, and the increased
bulk of the stool stimulates the urge to evacuate
Action of stool softeners - correct answer ✔✔ Enable moisture and fat to penetrate the stool,
thereby softening it and making it easier to pass.
Action of lubricants - correct answer ✔✔ Coat the stool in the G.I. tract with a thin waterproof
layer.
Action of osmotic laxatives - correct answer ✔✔ Work by drawing water into the bowel from
surrounding tissue, resulting in bowel distention
