Chapter 47:
Bowel Elimination
Chapter 47: Bowel Elimination
Potter et al.: Fundamentals of Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a health class about the gastrointestinal tract. The nurse will explain that
which portion of the digestive tract absorbs most of the nutrients?
a. Ileum
b. Cecum
c. Stomach
d. Duodenum
ANS: D
The duodenum and jejunum absorb most nutrients and electrolytes in the small intestine. The ileum
absorbs certain vitamins, iron, and bile salts. Food is broken down in the stomach. The cecum is the
beginning of the large intestine.
DIF:Understand (comprehension)REF:1150
OBJ: Discuss the role of gastrointestinal organs in digestion and elimination.
TOP: Teaching/Learning MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. The nurse is caring for patients with ostomies. In which ostomy location will the nurse expect very
liquid stool to be present?
,a. Sigmoid
b. Transverse
c. Ascending
d. Descending
ANS: C
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 (very liquid) would be in the ascending.
DIF:Apply (application)REF:1150
OBJ: Explain the physiological aspects of normal defecation. TOP: Assessment
MSC: Physiological Adaptation
3. A nurse is teaching a patient about the large intestine in elimination. In which order will the nurse
list the structures, starting with the first portion?
a. Cecum, ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, and rectum
b. Ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, rectum, and cecum
c. Cecum, sigmoid, ascending, transverse, descending, and rectum
d. Ascending, transverse, descending, rectum, sigmoid, and cecum
ANS: A
The large intestine is divided into the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon,
sigmoid colon, and rectum. The large intestine is the primary organ of bowel elimination.
DIF:Understand (comprehension)REF:1150
OBJ: Discuss the role of gastrointestinal organs in digestion and elimination.
, TOP: Teaching/Learning MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. The nurse is planning care for a group of patients. Which task will the nurse assign to the nursing
assistive personnel (NAP)?
a. Performing the first postoperative pouch change
b. Maintaining a nasogastric tube
c. Administering an enema
d. Digitally removing stool
ANS: C
The skill of administering an enema can be delegated to an NAP. The skill of inserting and
maintaining a nasogastric (NG) tube cannot be delegated to an NAP. The nurse should do the first
postoperative pouch change. Digitally removing stool cannot be delegated to nursing assistive
personnel.
DIF:Apply (application)REF:1170
OBJ: Use critical thinking in providing care to patients with alterations inbowel elimination.
TOP lanningMSC:Management of Care
5. A nurse is assisting a patient in making dietary choices that promote healthy bowel elimination.
Which menu option should the nurse recommend?
a. Broccoli and cheese soup with potato bread
b. Turkey and mashed potatoes with brown gravy
c. Grape and walnut chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread
d. Dinner salad topped with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and fat-free dressing
ANS: C
Bowel Elimination
Chapter 47: Bowel Elimination
Potter et al.: Fundamentals of Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a health class about the gastrointestinal tract. The nurse will explain that
which portion of the digestive tract absorbs most of the nutrients?
a. Ileum
b. Cecum
c. Stomach
d. Duodenum
ANS: D
The duodenum and jejunum absorb most nutrients and electrolytes in the small intestine. The ileum
absorbs certain vitamins, iron, and bile salts. Food is broken down in the stomach. The cecum is the
beginning of the large intestine.
DIF:Understand (comprehension)REF:1150
OBJ: Discuss the role of gastrointestinal organs in digestion and elimination.
TOP: Teaching/Learning MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. The nurse is caring for patients with ostomies. In which ostomy location will the nurse expect very
liquid stool to be present?
,a. Sigmoid
b. Transverse
c. Ascending
d. Descending
ANS: C
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 (very liquid) would be in the ascending.
DIF:Apply (application)REF:1150
OBJ: Explain the physiological aspects of normal defecation. TOP: Assessment
MSC: Physiological Adaptation
3. A nurse is teaching a patient about the large intestine in elimination. In which order will the nurse
list the structures, starting with the first portion?
a. Cecum, ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, and rectum
b. Ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, rectum, and cecum
c. Cecum, sigmoid, ascending, transverse, descending, and rectum
d. Ascending, transverse, descending, rectum, sigmoid, and cecum
ANS: A
The large intestine is divided into the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon,
sigmoid colon, and rectum. The large intestine is the primary organ of bowel elimination.
DIF:Understand (comprehension)REF:1150
OBJ: Discuss the role of gastrointestinal organs in digestion and elimination.
, TOP: Teaching/Learning MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. The nurse is planning care for a group of patients. Which task will the nurse assign to the nursing
assistive personnel (NAP)?
a. Performing the first postoperative pouch change
b. Maintaining a nasogastric tube
c. Administering an enema
d. Digitally removing stool
ANS: C
The skill of administering an enema can be delegated to an NAP. The skill of inserting and
maintaining a nasogastric (NG) tube cannot be delegated to an NAP. The nurse should do the first
postoperative pouch change. Digitally removing stool cannot be delegated to nursing assistive
personnel.
DIF:Apply (application)REF:1170
OBJ: Use critical thinking in providing care to patients with alterations inbowel elimination.
TOP lanningMSC:Management of Care
5. A nurse is assisting a patient in making dietary choices that promote healthy bowel elimination.
Which menu option should the nurse recommend?
a. Broccoli and cheese soup with potato bread
b. Turkey and mashed potatoes with brown gravy
c. Grape and walnut chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread
d. Dinner salad topped with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and fat-free dressing
ANS: C
