EAQ CHAPTER 30
A nurse notes that a patient has not had a stool for 2 days. Which should be the initial
action of the nurse? - answerAsk about the patient's normal bowel pattern
A patient with an ostomy pouch is beginning to feel uncomfortable as the pouch fills with
fecal matter. When does the nurse empty stool from the pouch? - answerWhen the
pouch is one-third to one-half full
A nurse is caring for a patient with a history of congestive heart failure. To reduce the
incidence of the patient developing excessive fluid accumulation, the nurse expects to
find which medication on the patient's medication administration record (MAR)? -
answerDiuretics
The primary health care provider notes that a patient has occult blood in his bowel
movements. What does the nurse understand by occult blood? - answerHidden blood
A patient is ordered nothing by mouth (NPO) following a surgical procedure. The patient
tells the nurse, "The doctor said I cannot eat or drink until peristalsis returns. What is
peristalsis?" What is an appropriate response by the nurse? - answer"Peristalsis
produces a sound in the abdomen that indicates movement of liquid and gas caused by
the wavelike movements that push the contents of the GI tract forward."
An elderly male patient has a poor diet and chronic constipation. Which of these would
be the best recommendation for the nurse to make? - answerTake a fiber supplement
daily
The primary health care provider has prescribed digital removal for a patient with severe
fecal impaction. What action will the nurse associate with digital removal? -
answerManually remove fecal matter
The primary health care provider prescribes diphenoxylate hydrochloride with atropine
for a patient. Which condition is the patient most likely suffering from? - answerDiarrhea
During an intake assessment, the patient tells the nurse she has been "passing light
gray bowel movements" for the past week. What does the nurse say may be causing
the light gray stools? - answerIt could be a liver abnormality
A patient with a chronic illness has been bedridden for three months. What bowel
irregularity is the patient at risk for related to lack of mobility? - answerConstipation
, The nurse is caring for a patient admitted for observation due to abdominal pain. Stool
sample testing reveals the presence of pus. What will the nurse interpret from this
finding? - answerThe patient has an infected or inflamed ulcer.
A primary health care provider advises a patient with colon cancer: "I would recommend
surgery to make an alternative opening into the intestine for waste elimination." What
surgical procedure is the primary health care provider referring to? - answerColostomy
A nurse is administering a cleansing enema to an infant. What volume of cleaning
enema will the nurse use? - answer100 mL
A primary health care provider tells a patient, "Make sure that your bowel movements
are regular." What is the primary health care provider referring to as "bowel"? -
answerIntestine
The nurse is caring for an elderly patient admitted with pneumonia. The patient is
complaining of abdominal pain. According to documentation, the patient has been
passing small amounts of watery rectal discharge. Upon auscultation, the nurse notes
hypoactive bowel sounds and abdominal distension. What is the most likely cause of
the patient's complaints? - answerFecal impaction
Which position is beneficial for administering an enema to a patient? - answerSims
position
The nurse is teaching a group of students about hand hygiene. What statement by a
student indicates a need for additional teaching? - answerWear artificial nails
A patient who recently had an appendectomy asks the nurse, "Are there any
undesirable effects of removing the appendix?" What is an appropriate response by the
nurse? - answerThe appendix has no known digestive function.
A nurse is caring for a patient taking the antidepressant medication sertraline. The
patient tells the nurse, "I often get constipated because of this medicine." What is an
appropriate response by the nurse? - answer"Constipation usually occurs due to the
drying effect of the medication. Drink plenty of water."
The nurse is examining a patient's stool for abnormalities. In addition to the stool's color,
the nurse should be alert for the presence of which abnormal findings? Select all that
apply. - answer-Large amounts of fat
-Large amounts of pus
-Presence of parasites
-Large amount of mucous
A patient experienced fecal incontinence and is feeling uncomfortable. What is the most
appropriate nursing intervention after fecal incontinence? - answerClean the patient's
skin
A nurse notes that a patient has not had a stool for 2 days. Which should be the initial
action of the nurse? - answerAsk about the patient's normal bowel pattern
A patient with an ostomy pouch is beginning to feel uncomfortable as the pouch fills with
fecal matter. When does the nurse empty stool from the pouch? - answerWhen the
pouch is one-third to one-half full
A nurse is caring for a patient with a history of congestive heart failure. To reduce the
incidence of the patient developing excessive fluid accumulation, the nurse expects to
find which medication on the patient's medication administration record (MAR)? -
answerDiuretics
The primary health care provider notes that a patient has occult blood in his bowel
movements. What does the nurse understand by occult blood? - answerHidden blood
A patient is ordered nothing by mouth (NPO) following a surgical procedure. The patient
tells the nurse, "The doctor said I cannot eat or drink until peristalsis returns. What is
peristalsis?" What is an appropriate response by the nurse? - answer"Peristalsis
produces a sound in the abdomen that indicates movement of liquid and gas caused by
the wavelike movements that push the contents of the GI tract forward."
An elderly male patient has a poor diet and chronic constipation. Which of these would
be the best recommendation for the nurse to make? - answerTake a fiber supplement
daily
The primary health care provider has prescribed digital removal for a patient with severe
fecal impaction. What action will the nurse associate with digital removal? -
answerManually remove fecal matter
The primary health care provider prescribes diphenoxylate hydrochloride with atropine
for a patient. Which condition is the patient most likely suffering from? - answerDiarrhea
During an intake assessment, the patient tells the nurse she has been "passing light
gray bowel movements" for the past week. What does the nurse say may be causing
the light gray stools? - answerIt could be a liver abnormality
A patient with a chronic illness has been bedridden for three months. What bowel
irregularity is the patient at risk for related to lack of mobility? - answerConstipation
, The nurse is caring for a patient admitted for observation due to abdominal pain. Stool
sample testing reveals the presence of pus. What will the nurse interpret from this
finding? - answerThe patient has an infected or inflamed ulcer.
A primary health care provider advises a patient with colon cancer: "I would recommend
surgery to make an alternative opening into the intestine for waste elimination." What
surgical procedure is the primary health care provider referring to? - answerColostomy
A nurse is administering a cleansing enema to an infant. What volume of cleaning
enema will the nurse use? - answer100 mL
A primary health care provider tells a patient, "Make sure that your bowel movements
are regular." What is the primary health care provider referring to as "bowel"? -
answerIntestine
The nurse is caring for an elderly patient admitted with pneumonia. The patient is
complaining of abdominal pain. According to documentation, the patient has been
passing small amounts of watery rectal discharge. Upon auscultation, the nurse notes
hypoactive bowel sounds and abdominal distension. What is the most likely cause of
the patient's complaints? - answerFecal impaction
Which position is beneficial for administering an enema to a patient? - answerSims
position
The nurse is teaching a group of students about hand hygiene. What statement by a
student indicates a need for additional teaching? - answerWear artificial nails
A patient who recently had an appendectomy asks the nurse, "Are there any
undesirable effects of removing the appendix?" What is an appropriate response by the
nurse? - answerThe appendix has no known digestive function.
A nurse is caring for a patient taking the antidepressant medication sertraline. The
patient tells the nurse, "I often get constipated because of this medicine." What is an
appropriate response by the nurse? - answer"Constipation usually occurs due to the
drying effect of the medication. Drink plenty of water."
The nurse is examining a patient's stool for abnormalities. In addition to the stool's color,
the nurse should be alert for the presence of which abnormal findings? Select all that
apply. - answer-Large amounts of fat
-Large amounts of pus
-Presence of parasites
-Large amount of mucous
A patient experienced fecal incontinence and is feeling uncomfortable. What is the most
appropriate nursing intervention after fecal incontinence? - answerClean the patient's
skin
