Chapter 46 Bowel Elimination 170 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH 100% RATED CORRECT ANSWERS (ACCURATELY
PASSED) 2025 LATEST UPDATED GET A+
The nurse knows that most nutrients are absorbed in which portion of the digestive tract?
a. Stomach
b. Duodenum
c. Ileum
d. Cecum - (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 - (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 - (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. - (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 patient's voiding schedule
should not be based on the staff's 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 - (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.
b. Laxatives can cause trauma to the intestinal lining and scarring may result, leading to
decreased peristalsis.
,c. Natural laxatives such as mineral oil are safer than chemical laxatives for relieving
constipation.
d. Laxatives cause the body to become malnourished, so when the patient begins eating again,
the body absorbs all of the food, and no waste products are produced - (ANSWER)ANS: A
Long-term laxative use can lead to constipation. Increasing fluid and fiber intake can help with
this problem. Laxatives do not cause scarring. Natural laxatives like mineral oil come with their
own set of risks, such as inability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Even if malnourished, the body
will produce waste if substance is consumed
A patient with a hip fracture is having difficulty defecating into a bed pan while lying in bed.
Which action by the nurse would assist the patient in having a successful bowel movement?
a. Administering laxatives to the patient
b. Raising the head of the bed
c. Preparing to administer a barium enema
d. Withholding narcotic pain medication - (ANSWER)ANS: B
Lying in bed is an unnatural position; raising the head of the bed assists the patient into a more
normal position that allows proper contraction of muscles for elimination. Laxatives would not
give the patient control over bowel movements. A barium enema is a diagnostic test, not an
intervention to promote defecation. Pain relief measures should be given; however, preventative
action should be taken to prevent constipation.
Which patient is most at risk for increased peristalsis?
a. A 5-year-old child who ignores the urge to defecate owing to embarrassment
b. A 21-year-old patient with three final examinations on the same day
c. A 40-year-old woman with major depressive disorder
d. An 80-year-old man in an assisted-living environment - (ANSWER)ANS: B
Stress can stimulate digestion and increase peristalsis. Ignoring the urge to defecate, depression,
and age-related changes of the elderly are causes of constipation
A patient expresses concerns over having black stool. The fecal occult test is negative. Which
response by the nurse is most appropriate?
, a. "This is probably a false negative; we should rerun the test."
b. "Do you take iron supplements?"
c. "You should schedule a colonoscopy as soon as possible."
d. "Sometimes severe stress can alter stool color." - (ANSWER)ANS: B
Certain medications and supplements, such as iron, can alter the color of stool. The fecal occult
test takes three separate samples over a period of time and is a fairly reliable test. A colonoscopy
is health prevention screening that should be done every 5 to 10 years; it is not the nurse's initial
priority. Stress alters GI motility and stool consistency, not color
Which physiological change can cause a paralytic ileus?
a. Chronic cathartic abuse
b. Surgery for Crohn's disease and anesthesia
c. Suppression of hydrochloric acid from medication
d. Fecal impaction - (ANSWER)ANS: B
Surgical manipulation of the bowel can cause a paralytic ileus. The other options are incorrect
Fecal impactions occur in which portion of the colon?
a. Ascending
b. Descending
c. Transverse
d. Rectum - (ANSWER)ANS: D
A fecal impaction is a collection of hardened feces wedged in the rectum that cannot be expelled.
It results from unrelieved constipation. Feces at this point in the colon contain the least amount
of moisture. Feces found in the ascending, transverse, and descending colon still consist mostly
of liquid and do not form a hardened mass.
The nurse provides knows that a bowel elimination schedule would be most beneficial in the
plan of care for which patient?
a. A 40-year-old patient with an ileostomy
WITH 100% RATED CORRECT ANSWERS (ACCURATELY
PASSED) 2025 LATEST UPDATED GET A+
The nurse knows that most nutrients are absorbed in which portion of the digestive tract?
a. Stomach
b. Duodenum
c. Ileum
d. Cecum - (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 - (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 - (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. - (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 patient's voiding schedule
should not be based on the staff's 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 - (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.
b. Laxatives can cause trauma to the intestinal lining and scarring may result, leading to
decreased peristalsis.
,c. Natural laxatives such as mineral oil are safer than chemical laxatives for relieving
constipation.
d. Laxatives cause the body to become malnourished, so when the patient begins eating again,
the body absorbs all of the food, and no waste products are produced - (ANSWER)ANS: A
Long-term laxative use can lead to constipation. Increasing fluid and fiber intake can help with
this problem. Laxatives do not cause scarring. Natural laxatives like mineral oil come with their
own set of risks, such as inability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Even if malnourished, the body
will produce waste if substance is consumed
A patient with a hip fracture is having difficulty defecating into a bed pan while lying in bed.
Which action by the nurse would assist the patient in having a successful bowel movement?
a. Administering laxatives to the patient
b. Raising the head of the bed
c. Preparing to administer a barium enema
d. Withholding narcotic pain medication - (ANSWER)ANS: B
Lying in bed is an unnatural position; raising the head of the bed assists the patient into a more
normal position that allows proper contraction of muscles for elimination. Laxatives would not
give the patient control over bowel movements. A barium enema is a diagnostic test, not an
intervention to promote defecation. Pain relief measures should be given; however, preventative
action should be taken to prevent constipation.
Which patient is most at risk for increased peristalsis?
a. A 5-year-old child who ignores the urge to defecate owing to embarrassment
b. A 21-year-old patient with three final examinations on the same day
c. A 40-year-old woman with major depressive disorder
d. An 80-year-old man in an assisted-living environment - (ANSWER)ANS: B
Stress can stimulate digestion and increase peristalsis. Ignoring the urge to defecate, depression,
and age-related changes of the elderly are causes of constipation
A patient expresses concerns over having black stool. The fecal occult test is negative. Which
response by the nurse is most appropriate?
, a. "This is probably a false negative; we should rerun the test."
b. "Do you take iron supplements?"
c. "You should schedule a colonoscopy as soon as possible."
d. "Sometimes severe stress can alter stool color." - (ANSWER)ANS: B
Certain medications and supplements, such as iron, can alter the color of stool. The fecal occult
test takes three separate samples over a period of time and is a fairly reliable test. A colonoscopy
is health prevention screening that should be done every 5 to 10 years; it is not the nurse's initial
priority. Stress alters GI motility and stool consistency, not color
Which physiological change can cause a paralytic ileus?
a. Chronic cathartic abuse
b. Surgery for Crohn's disease and anesthesia
c. Suppression of hydrochloric acid from medication
d. Fecal impaction - (ANSWER)ANS: B
Surgical manipulation of the bowel can cause a paralytic ileus. The other options are incorrect
Fecal impactions occur in which portion of the colon?
a. Ascending
b. Descending
c. Transverse
d. Rectum - (ANSWER)ANS: D
A fecal impaction is a collection of hardened feces wedged in the rectum that cannot be expelled.
It results from unrelieved constipation. Feces at this point in the colon contain the least amount
of moisture. Feces found in the ascending, transverse, and descending colon still consist mostly
of liquid and do not form a hardened mass.
The nurse provides knows that a bowel elimination schedule would be most beneficial in the
plan of care for which patient?
a. A 40-year-old patient with an ileostomy
