Exam 35: Bowel Elimination

The nurse observes a continual oozing of stool from the rectum of a patient who has been immobilized following surgery.The nurse recognizes that this condition most likely a result of which of the following?

The health care provider orders a patient to have a fecal occult blood test.To obtain an accurate result,the nurse instructs the patient to do which of the following?

The nurse is caring for a patient with abdominal pain.While obtaining a stool specimen for occult blood,the nurse notices that the specimen is black.The nurse recognizes that the color change may be the result of which of the following?

A 45-year-old Catholic Hispanic-American patient has been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia.On admission,the patient did not identify any food preferences or food allergies.The nurse notes that the patient has requested that the family provide all meals during the hospital stay.This is most likely related to which of the following?

The nurse is caring for a patient on the GI floor who has anemia.When reviewing the patient's recent lab work,which lab test would the nurse expect to be decreased?

A student nurse is assisting with colon cancer screening at the local health care clinic.The student is completing fecal occult blood testing on the stool specimens.This test is also referred to as a(n)_____ test.

A patient with colon cancer has recently undergone surgery to remove a portion of the colon.The patient asks how often the colostomy pouching system should be changed.What is the best response by the nurse?

The nurse receives a patient from the emergency department with the diagnosis of ileus.The nurse expects the health care provider to order NPO for dietary status,and insert a nasogastric tube.The nurse knows that the purpose of the nasogastric tube is to do which of the following?

Elevating the head of the bed to the maximum allowed amount of 30 degrees for a patient in balanced suspension traction helps to promote normal elimination by which of the following?

A nurse has delegated the administration of a tap water enema to a nursing assistive personnel (NAP).The assistive personnel demonstrates understanding of the procedure when she states which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

To maintain normal elimination patterns in a hospitalized patient,why should the nurse encourage the patient to take time to defecate 1 hour after meals?

Which of the following conditions could affect the function of the digestive process? (Select all that apply.)

A patient is concerned about intermittent constipation and is confused about all the laxatives that are available.One of the laxatives that the patient has used in the past was mineral oil.The nurse explains that this type of laxative is an example of a(n)_____ laxative.

The home health nurse is visiting a 67-year-old widow who lives at home by herself.The patient voices a concern about constipation.What is the best way for the nurse to approach the patient's concern?

The labor/delivery nurse is caring for a 33-year-old who is in labor with her first child.The patient complained to the nurse about the hemorrhoids that she has experienced during the last month of her pregnancy.She asks,"what can I do to prevent future problems with hemorrhoids?" What is the nurse's best response?

A patient will be undergoing abdominal surgeries,which will most likely result in an ostomy.The patient asks the nurse,"What will the stool from my ostomy look like?" What is the best answer?

A student nurse is caring for a patient who has dehydration as a result of diarrhea.Diarrhea is a result of abnormally fast peristalsis in what organ?

A patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident and underwent a loop colostomy.The patient questions the nurse about what is draining out of each side of the colostomy.What is the nurse's best response?

The nurse caring for several patients on the surgical unit of the hospital.The nurse knows that constipation can be a significant health hazard and encourages the postoperative patients to drink fluids.Which one of the following patients is most at risk from complications related to constipation?