Exam 43: Nursing Management: Lower Gastrointestinal Problems

A 67-year-old patient tells the nurse, "I have problems with constipation now that I am older, so I use a suppository every morning." The most appropriate nursing action at this time is to

Two days following an exploratory laparotomy with a resection of a short segment of small bowel, the patient complains of gas pains and abdominal distention. Which nursing action is most appropriate to take at this time?

A patient with acute diarrhea of 24 hours' duration calls the clinic to ask for directions for care. In talking with the patient, the nurse should

A patient has a newly formed ileostomy for treatment of ulcerative colitis. In teaching the patient about the care of the ileostomy, the nurse informs the patient about the need to

Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) is prescribed for a patient who has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The nurse recognizes that teaching about this drug has been effective when the patient says,

A patient with Crohn's disease develops a fever and symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) with tan, foul-smelling urine. The nurse will teach the patient