ATI- Bowel Elimination Questions with Correct
Answers
A woman age 76 years has informed the nurse that she has begun using
over-the-counter laxatives because her friend told her it was imperative
to have at least one bowel movement daily. How should the nurse best
respond to this client's statement?
"Your friend is correct in her assessment, but it would likely be better to
exercise and drink more instead of using medications."
"Actually, people's bowel patterns can vary a lot and some people don't
tend to go every day."
"That's correct, but be sure that you don't increase your laxative doses
over time."
"Most older adults only have a bowel movement every 2 to 3 days,
actually, so I'd encourage you to taper off your laxative Correct
Answer-"Actually, people's bowel patterns can vary a lot and some
people don't tend to go every day."
Elimination patterns vary widely among individuals, and the expectation
of a daily bowel movement is not realistic for many healthy people. This
client may not require pharmacologic interventions.
A nurse is documenting the appearance of feces from a client with a
permanent ileostomy. Which scenario would she document?
"Colostomy bag intact without feces."
,"Colostomy bag filled with flatus and feces."
"Ileostomy bag half filled with liquid feces."
"Ileostomy bag half filled with hard, formed feces." Correct
Answer-"Ileostomy bag half filled with liquid feces."
The client with an ileostomy (temporary or permanent) has an opening
into the small intestine. Because feces do not reach the large intestine,
water is not absorbed, and the feces will be liquid. A colostomy is when
a portion of the large intestine is diverted through the abdominal wall.
The nurse is preparing to auscultate the bowel sounds of a client with a
nasogastric tube in place set to low intermittent suction. How shall the
nurse approach the assessment of bowel sounds and manage the
nasogastric tube?
Apply continuous suction to the nasogastric tube during assessment of
bowel sounds.
Allow the low intermittent suction to continue during the assessment of
bowel sounds.
Disconnect the nasogastric tube from suction during the assessment of
bowel sounds.
Disconnect the nasogastric tube from the suction for 1 hour prior to the
assessment of bowel sounds. Correct Answer-Disconnect the nasogastric
tube from suction during the assessment of bowel sounds.
If the client has a nasogastric tube in place, disconnect it from the
suction during this assessment to allow for accurate interpretation of
,sounds. Allowing the low intermittent to continue during the assessment
will interfere with the auscultation of the sounds. Disconnect of the tube
can occur immediately and not for 1 hour prior to the assessment.
The nurse is scheduling tests for a client who is experiencing bowel
alterations. What is the most logical sequence of tests to ensure an
accurate diagnosis?
barium studies, endoscopic examination, fecal occult blood test
fecal occult blood test, barium studies, endoscopic examination
endoscopic examination, barium studies, fecal occult blood test
barium studies, fecal occult blood test, endoscopic examination Correct
Answer-fecal occult blood test, barium studies, endoscopic examination
There is a specific sequence that bowel tests must be performed due to
the results of certain contrasts and other preps that must be given. The
nurse would verify that the tests are done in the correct order: Fecal
occult blood test, barium studies, and then endoscopic examination.
The nurse is caring for an older adult client with diarrhea. Which finding
is most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider?
Heart rate of 88 beats/min
, Skin turgor response of 6 seconds
Blood pressure of 120/70 mm Hg
Temperature of 99°F (37.2°C) Correct Answer-Skin turgor response of 6
seconds
The nurse is required to report any abnormal findings to the health care
provider. Skin turgor response that is greater than 3 seconds, especially
in an older adult client, requires nursing intervention. Older adults with
diarrhea can more easily become dehydrated and develop fluid and
electrolyte imbalances. All other assessment findings are normal.
A client with no significant medical history reports experiencing
diarrhea over the past week. Which assessment question(s) will the nurse
ask? Select all that apply.
"Do you use laxatives?"
"Is the stool difficult to pass?"
"Are you experiencing rectal fullness?"
"What are your normal bowel habits?"
"Have you started a new medication?" Correct Answer-"Do you use
laxatives?"
"What are your normal bowel habits?"
"Have you started a new medication?"
The nurse will ask about new medications because these can often cause
diarrhea; what the client's normal bowel habits are like, to establish a
Answers
A woman age 76 years has informed the nurse that she has begun using
over-the-counter laxatives because her friend told her it was imperative
to have at least one bowel movement daily. How should the nurse best
respond to this client's statement?
"Your friend is correct in her assessment, but it would likely be better to
exercise and drink more instead of using medications."
"Actually, people's bowel patterns can vary a lot and some people don't
tend to go every day."
"That's correct, but be sure that you don't increase your laxative doses
over time."
"Most older adults only have a bowel movement every 2 to 3 days,
actually, so I'd encourage you to taper off your laxative Correct
Answer-"Actually, people's bowel patterns can vary a lot and some
people don't tend to go every day."
Elimination patterns vary widely among individuals, and the expectation
of a daily bowel movement is not realistic for many healthy people. This
client may not require pharmacologic interventions.
A nurse is documenting the appearance of feces from a client with a
permanent ileostomy. Which scenario would she document?
"Colostomy bag intact without feces."
,"Colostomy bag filled with flatus and feces."
"Ileostomy bag half filled with liquid feces."
"Ileostomy bag half filled with hard, formed feces." Correct
Answer-"Ileostomy bag half filled with liquid feces."
The client with an ileostomy (temporary or permanent) has an opening
into the small intestine. Because feces do not reach the large intestine,
water is not absorbed, and the feces will be liquid. A colostomy is when
a portion of the large intestine is diverted through the abdominal wall.
The nurse is preparing to auscultate the bowel sounds of a client with a
nasogastric tube in place set to low intermittent suction. How shall the
nurse approach the assessment of bowel sounds and manage the
nasogastric tube?
Apply continuous suction to the nasogastric tube during assessment of
bowel sounds.
Allow the low intermittent suction to continue during the assessment of
bowel sounds.
Disconnect the nasogastric tube from suction during the assessment of
bowel sounds.
Disconnect the nasogastric tube from the suction for 1 hour prior to the
assessment of bowel sounds. Correct Answer-Disconnect the nasogastric
tube from suction during the assessment of bowel sounds.
If the client has a nasogastric tube in place, disconnect it from the
suction during this assessment to allow for accurate interpretation of
,sounds. Allowing the low intermittent to continue during the assessment
will interfere with the auscultation of the sounds. Disconnect of the tube
can occur immediately and not for 1 hour prior to the assessment.
The nurse is scheduling tests for a client who is experiencing bowel
alterations. What is the most logical sequence of tests to ensure an
accurate diagnosis?
barium studies, endoscopic examination, fecal occult blood test
fecal occult blood test, barium studies, endoscopic examination
endoscopic examination, barium studies, fecal occult blood test
barium studies, fecal occult blood test, endoscopic examination Correct
Answer-fecal occult blood test, barium studies, endoscopic examination
There is a specific sequence that bowel tests must be performed due to
the results of certain contrasts and other preps that must be given. The
nurse would verify that the tests are done in the correct order: Fecal
occult blood test, barium studies, and then endoscopic examination.
The nurse is caring for an older adult client with diarrhea. Which finding
is most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider?
Heart rate of 88 beats/min
, Skin turgor response of 6 seconds
Blood pressure of 120/70 mm Hg
Temperature of 99°F (37.2°C) Correct Answer-Skin turgor response of 6
seconds
The nurse is required to report any abnormal findings to the health care
provider. Skin turgor response that is greater than 3 seconds, especially
in an older adult client, requires nursing intervention. Older adults with
diarrhea can more easily become dehydrated and develop fluid and
electrolyte imbalances. All other assessment findings are normal.
A client with no significant medical history reports experiencing
diarrhea over the past week. Which assessment question(s) will the nurse
ask? Select all that apply.
"Do you use laxatives?"
"Is the stool difficult to pass?"
"Are you experiencing rectal fullness?"
"What are your normal bowel habits?"
"Have you started a new medication?" Correct Answer-"Do you use
laxatives?"
"What are your normal bowel habits?"
"Have you started a new medication?"
The nurse will ask about new medications because these can often cause
diarrhea; what the client's normal bowel habits are like, to establish a
