Bowel Elimination Flashcards
The nurse knows that most nutrients are absorbed in which portion of the digestive
tract?
Duodenum
The nurse would expect the least formed stool to be present in which portion of the
digestive tract?
Ascending
Which of the following is not a function of the large intestine?
Absorbing nutrients
The nurse is caring for a patient who is confined to the bed. The nurse asks the patient if
he needs to have a bowel movement 30 minutes after eating a meal because
Mastication triggers the digestive system to begin peristalsis.
A nurse is assisting a patient in making dietary choices that promote healthy bowel
elimination. Which menu option should the nurse recommend?
Grape and walnut chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread
A patient informs the nurse that she was using laxatives three times daily to lose weight.
After stopping use of the laxative, the patient had difficulty with constipation and wonders if she
needs to take laxatives again. The nurse educates the patient that
Long-term laxative use causes the bowel to become less responsive to stimuli, and
constipation may occur.
A patient with a hip fracture is having difficulty defecating into a bed pan while lying in
bed. Which action by the nurse would assist the patient in having a successful bowel movement?
Raising the head of the bed
Which patient is most at risk for increased peristalsis?
A 21-year-old patient with three final examinations on the same day
A patient expresses concerns over having black stool. The fecal occult test is negative.
Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
“Do you take iron supplements?”
Which physiological change can cause a paralytic ileus?
Surgery for Crohn’s disease and anesthesia
Fecal impactions occur in which portion of the colon?
Rectum
The nurse provides knows that a bowel elimination schedule would be most beneficial
in the plan of care for which patient?
A 70-year-old patient with stool incontinence
Which nursing intervention is most effective in promoting normal defecation for a
patient who has muscle weakness in the legs that prevents ambulation?
Use a mobility device to place the patient on a bedside commode.
The nurse is devising a plan of care for a patient with the nursing diagnosis of
Constipation related to opioid use. Which of the following outcomes would the nurse evaluate as
successful for the patient to establish normal defecation?
The patient reports eliminating a soft, formed stool.
The nurse is emptying an ileostomy pouch for a patient. Which assessment finding
would the nurse report immediately?
Presence of blood in the stool
The nurse would anticipate which diagnostic examination for a patient with black tarry
stools?
Upper endoscopy
The nurse has attempted to administer a tap water enema for a patient with fecal
impaction with no success. What is the next priority nursing action?
Donning gloves for digital removal of the stool
The nurse should question which order?
A Kayexalate enema for a patient with hypokalemia
The nurse is preparing to perform a fecal occult blood test. The nurse plans to properly
perform the examination by
Reporting any abnormal findings to the provider.
A nurse is preparing a patient for a magnetic resonance imaging scan. Which nursing
action is most important?
Removing all of the patient’s metallic jewelry
After a patient returns from a barium swallow, the nurse’s priority is to
Encourage the patient to increase fluids to flush out the barium.
While a cleansing enema is administered to an 80-year-old patient, the patient
expresses the urge to defecate. What is the next priority nursing action?
Positioning the patient in the dorsal recumbent position with a bed pan
A nurse is educating a patient on how to irrigate an ostomy bag. Which statement by
the patient indicates the need for further instruction?
“I can use a fleet enema to save money because it contains the same irrigation
solution.”
A patient is diagnosed with a bowel obstruction. The nurse chooses which type of tube
for gastric decompression?
Salem sump
A patient had an ileostomy surgically placed 2 days ago. Which diet would the nurse
recommend to the patient to ease the transition of the new ostomy?
Turkey meatloaf with white rice and apple juice
A nurse is pouching an ostomy on a patient with an ileostomy. Which action by the
nurse is most appropriate?
Selecting a pouch that is able to hold excess output to reduce the frequency of
pouch emptying
The nurse knows that the ideal time to change an ostomy pouch is
Before eating a meal, when the patient is comfortable.
The nurse administers a cathartic to a patient. The nurse determines that the cathartic
has had a therapeutic effect when the patient
Has a bowel movement.
An older adult’s perineal skin appears to be dry and thin with mild excoriation. When
providing hygiene after a bowel movement, the nurse should
Apply a skin protective lotion after perineal care.
Which nursing action best reduces risk of excoriation to the mucosal lining of the nose
from a nasogastric tube?
Lubricating the nares with water-soluble lubricant
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a patient who is going home with a guaiac
test. Which statement by the patient indicates the need for further education?
“If I get a positive result, I have gastrointestinal bleeding.”
