Nclex Practice Questions Bowel Elimination All round
Questions and Answers Revised and Approved
The nurse knows that most nutrients are absorbed in which portion of the digestive tract?
a. Stomach
b. Duodenum
c. Ileum
d. Cecum - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -ANS: B
Most nutrients are absorbed in the duodenum with the exception of certain vitamins, iron, and
salt (which are absorbed in the ileum). Food is broken down in the stomach. The cecum is the
beginning of the large intestine.
The nurse would expect the least formed stool to be present in which portion of the digestive
tract?
,a. Ascending
b. Descending
c. Transverse
d. Sigmoid - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -ANS: A
The path of digestion goes from the ascending, across the transverse, to the descending and
finally passing into the sigmoid; therefore, the least formed stool would be in the ascending.
Which of the following is not a function of the large intestine?
a. Absorbing nutrients
b. Absorbing water
c. Secreting bicarbonate
,d. Eliminating waste - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -ANS: A
Nutrient absorption is done in the small intestine. The other options are all functions of the large
intestine.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is confined to the bed. The nurse asks the patient if he
needs to have a bowel movement 30 minutes after eating a meal because
a. The digested food needs to make room for recently ingested food.
b. Mastication triggers the digestive system to begin peristalsis.
c. The smell of bowel elimination in the room would deter the patient from eating.
d. More ancillary staff members are available after meal times. - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -
ANS: B
Peristalsis occurs only a few times a day; the strongest peristaltic waves are triggered by
mastication of the meal. The intestine can hold a great deal of food. A patients voiding schedule
should not be based on the staffs convenience.
, A nurse is assisting a patient in making dietary choices that promote healthy bowel elimination.
Which menu option should the nurse recommend?
a. Grape and walnut chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread
b. Broccoli and cheese soup with potato bread
c. Dinner salad topped with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and fat-free dressing
d. Turkey and mashed potatoes with brown gravy - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -ANS: A
A healthy diet for the bowel should include foods high in bulk-forming fiber. Whole grains, fresh
fruit, and fresh vegetables are excellent sources. Foods without much fiber and with high levels
of fat can slow down peristalsis, causing constipation.
A patient informs the nurse that she was using laxatives three times daily to lose weight. After
stopping use of the laxative, the patient had difficulty with constipation and wonders if she needs
to take laxatives again. The nurse educates the patient that
a. Long-term laxative use causes the bowel to become less responsive to stimuli, and
constipation may occur.
Questions and Answers Revised and Approved
The nurse knows that most nutrients are absorbed in which portion of the digestive tract?
a. Stomach
b. Duodenum
c. Ileum
d. Cecum - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -ANS: B
Most nutrients are absorbed in the duodenum with the exception of certain vitamins, iron, and
salt (which are absorbed in the ileum). Food is broken down in the stomach. The cecum is the
beginning of the large intestine.
The nurse would expect the least formed stool to be present in which portion of the digestive
tract?
,a. Ascending
b. Descending
c. Transverse
d. Sigmoid - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -ANS: A
The path of digestion goes from the ascending, across the transverse, to the descending and
finally passing into the sigmoid; therefore, the least formed stool would be in the ascending.
Which of the following is not a function of the large intestine?
a. Absorbing nutrients
b. Absorbing water
c. Secreting bicarbonate
,d. Eliminating waste - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -ANS: A
Nutrient absorption is done in the small intestine. The other options are all functions of the large
intestine.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is confined to the bed. The nurse asks the patient if he
needs to have a bowel movement 30 minutes after eating a meal because
a. The digested food needs to make room for recently ingested food.
b. Mastication triggers the digestive system to begin peristalsis.
c. The smell of bowel elimination in the room would deter the patient from eating.
d. More ancillary staff members are available after meal times. - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -
ANS: B
Peristalsis occurs only a few times a day; the strongest peristaltic waves are triggered by
mastication of the meal. The intestine can hold a great deal of food. A patients voiding schedule
should not be based on the staffs convenience.
, A nurse is assisting a patient in making dietary choices that promote healthy bowel elimination.
Which menu option should the nurse recommend?
a. Grape and walnut chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread
b. Broccoli and cheese soup with potato bread
c. Dinner salad topped with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and fat-free dressing
d. Turkey and mashed potatoes with brown gravy - CORRECT ANSWER ✔️✔️ -ANS: A
A healthy diet for the bowel should include foods high in bulk-forming fiber. Whole grains, fresh
fruit, and fresh vegetables are excellent sources. Foods without much fiber and with high levels
of fat can slow down peristalsis, causing constipation.
A patient informs the nurse that she was using laxatives three times daily to lose weight. After
stopping use of the laxative, the patient had difficulty with constipation and wonders if she needs
to take laxatives again. The nurse educates the patient that
a. Long-term laxative use causes the bowel to become less responsive to stimuli, and
constipation may occur.
