Question 1

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   Diarrhea
B)   Flatulence
C)   Fecal impaction
D)   The Valsalva maneuver C

Question 2

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   Submit one sample for analysis.
B)   Take extra amounts of vitamin C supplements.
C)   Stop taking aspirin 14 days prior to the beginning of the test.
D)   Refrain from ingesting red meats for 3 days before testing. D

Question 3

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   Absence of bile
B)   Malabsorption of fat
C)   Diarrhea
D)   Iron supplements or GI bleeding D

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   Food preferences
B)   Hispanic cultural traditions
C)   Religious preferences
D)   Food sensitivities

Question 5

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   Total bilirubin
B)   Hemoglobin and hematocrit
C)   Serum amylase
D)   Ova and parasites

Question 6

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.

Accepted Answer

A)   melena
B)   guaiac
C)   amylase
D)   alkaline phosphatase

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   Every 3 to 7 days
B)   Every 10 to 14 days
C)   When the pouch is one third to one half full of stool
D)   Not until the system starts to leak or smell bad

Question 8

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   Decompress the stomach until peristalsis returns.
B)   Provide tube feedings until peristalsis resumes.
C)   Allow for the release of flatulence.
D)   To keep the stomach expanded until peristalsis resumes.

Question 9

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   Decreasing peristaltic movement
B)   Promoting contraction of the thigh muscles
C)   Strengthening the resistance of the internal and external sphincters
D)   Exerting increased pressure on the rectum

Question 10

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.)

Accepted Answer

A)   "I will lower the enema when the patient complains of cramping."
B)   "I will speed up the enema administration when the patient complains of cramping."
C)   "I will withdraw the tube when the patient complains of cramping."
D)   "I will clamp the tubing when the patient complains of cramping."
E)   "I will fill the bag with hot water because it will cool while I am administering the enema."F)  "I will have the patient sit on the toilet while I am administering the enema."

Question 11

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   The presence of food stimulates peristalsis.
B)   Mass colonic peristalsis occurs at this time.
C)   Irregularity helps to develop a habitual pattern.
D)   Neglecting the urge to defecate can cause diarrhea.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

A)   Increase in mobility
B)   Diagnostic testing
C)   Increase in nutrition
D)   Medications
E)   Increase in fluid intakeF)  Surgery

Question 13

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.

Accepted Answer

A)   stimulant
B)   osmotic agent
C)   emollient
D)   lubricant

Question 14

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Tell me why you think you are constipated."
B)   "Have you noticed that your stools are hard?"
C)   "How frequently are you having a bowel movement?"
D)   "What color is your stool?"

Question 15

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Hemorrhoids are caused by defecation of stools that are loose and watery."
B)   "You need to soften your stools by drinking plenty of fluids."
C)   "You should eat less carbohydrates."
D)   "There is nothing that you can do to prevent hemorrhoids."

Question 16

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Your stools won't change from what they currently are."
B)   "The consistency of your stools will be very soft."
C)   "The consistency of your stools will be liquid."
D)   "The consistency of your stools will depend on the location of stoma (ostomy) ."

Question 17

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   Jejunum
B)   Stomach
C)   Duodenum
D)   Colon

Question 18

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   "There is stool draining out of both sides."
B)   "Stool is draining out the stomach side and mucus is draining from the rectum side."
C)   "There is mucus and stool draining from both sides."
D)   "There is stool draining out of the stomach side and nothing draining out of the rectum side."

Question 19

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?

Accepted Answer

A)   A 35-year-old man with back surgery
B)   A 47-year-old woman with an abdominal hysterectomy
C)   A 29-year-old women with carpal tunnel surgery
D)   A 77-year-old man with hip surgery

Exam 35: Bowel Elimination