1
NU271 Case Study: Constipation (week 11) Questions with
Answers (100% Correct Answers)
Meet the Client
Ans: A client on the medical surgical unit had an abdominal hysterectomy three days
ago and is now reporting abdominal bloating, pain, and nausea. She is reluctant to eat
or drink anything stating, "The smell of food makes me nauseated." She informs the
nurse that she feels constipated and has not passed a bowel movement since prior to
surgery.
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Ans: The nurse observes the client's abdomen is firm and distended. The nurse
performs an abdominal assessment.
In which sequence should the nurse perform the abdominal assessment?
Ans: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation.
-
Percussion and palpation can alter abdominal findings, so inspection and auscultation
are indicated prior to percussion and palpation.
Which assessment is most important for the nurse to perform?
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, 2
Ans: Auscultate bowel sounds.
-
The subjective data reported by the client (bloated and nauseated) and objective data
gathered by the nurse (abdomen firm and distended) suggest that she may have
decreased peristalsis. This can be assessed by auscultation of the bowel sounds.
Which is the most important action for the nurse to perform when assessing bowel
sounds? (Select all that apply.)
Ans: Listen for up to 5 minutes when auscultating for bowel sounds. (The nurse must
listen for up to 5 minutes before determining what type of bowel sounds are present.)
-
Begin auscultation in the right lower quadrant. (The nurse should auscultate in the right
lower quadrant, and then proceed to the other quadrants.)
The nurse auscultates for the client's bowel sounds and hears faint gurgling after 3
minutes. Which assessment finding should the nurse document?
Ans: Hypoactive bowel sounds.
-
Normally, bowel sounds are heard 5 to 35 times per minute. When bowel sounds are
heard only after listening for 3 minutes, they are recorded as hypoactive.
Psychosocial Integrity
Ans: While the nurse is completing the assessment, the client begins to cry and moan,
"I just knew something would go wrong."
How should the nurse respond?
© 2025 All rights reserved
NU271 Case Study: Constipation (week 11) Questions with
Answers (100% Correct Answers)
Meet the Client
Ans: A client on the medical surgical unit had an abdominal hysterectomy three days
ago and is now reporting abdominal bloating, pain, and nausea. She is reluctant to eat
or drink anything stating, "The smell of food makes me nauseated." She informs the
nurse that she feels constipated and has not passed a bowel movement since prior to
surgery.
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Ans: The nurse observes the client's abdomen is firm and distended. The nurse
performs an abdominal assessment.
In which sequence should the nurse perform the abdominal assessment?
Ans: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation.
-
Percussion and palpation can alter abdominal findings, so inspection and auscultation
are indicated prior to percussion and palpation.
Which assessment is most important for the nurse to perform?
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2
Ans: Auscultate bowel sounds.
-
The subjective data reported by the client (bloated and nauseated) and objective data
gathered by the nurse (abdomen firm and distended) suggest that she may have
decreased peristalsis. This can be assessed by auscultation of the bowel sounds.
Which is the most important action for the nurse to perform when assessing bowel
sounds? (Select all that apply.)
Ans: Listen for up to 5 minutes when auscultating for bowel sounds. (The nurse must
listen for up to 5 minutes before determining what type of bowel sounds are present.)
-
Begin auscultation in the right lower quadrant. (The nurse should auscultate in the right
lower quadrant, and then proceed to the other quadrants.)
The nurse auscultates for the client's bowel sounds and hears faint gurgling after 3
minutes. Which assessment finding should the nurse document?
Ans: Hypoactive bowel sounds.
-
Normally, bowel sounds are heard 5 to 35 times per minute. When bowel sounds are
heard only after listening for 3 minutes, they are recorded as hypoactive.
Psychosocial Integrity
Ans: While the nurse is completing the assessment, the client begins to cry and moan,
"I just knew something would go wrong."
How should the nurse respond?
© 2025 All rights reserved
