Fund cptr 46 Bowel questions Flashcards
During the nursing assessment a patient reveals that he has diarrhea and cramping every time he has ice cream. He attributes this to the cold nature of the food. However, the nurse begins to suspect that these symptoms are associated with:
A) Food allergy. B) Irritable bowel. C) Lactose intolerance. D) Increased peristalsis.
C
This patient possibly lacks the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar lactase and therefore is potentially lactose intolerant.
When assessing a 55-year-old patient who is in the clinic for a routine physical, the nurse instructs the patient about the need to obtain a stool specimen for guaiac fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT):
A) If patient reports rectal bleeding. B) When there is a family history of polyps. C) As part of a routine examination for colon cancer. D) If a palpable mass is detected on digital examination.
C
This is used as a diagnostic screening tool for colon cancer as recommended by the American Cancer Society.
Which of the following medications listed in a patient’s medication history possibly causes gastrointestinal bleeding? (Select all that apply.)
A) Aspirin B) Cathartics C) Antidiarrheal opiate agents D) Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
A & D
Side effects of aspirin and NSAIDs include rectal bleeding
Nurses discourage patients from straining on defecation primarily because it causes: (Select all that apply.)
A) Pain. B) Impaction. C) Hemorrhoids. D) Dysrhythmias.
C & D
The Valsalva maneuver requires the patient to hold his or her breath while straining to defecate. This maneuver increases venous pressure from straining. Over time, hemorrhoids result. In addition, this maneuver increases the risk for dysrhythmias, which are often life threatening.
A cleansing enema is ordered for a 55-year-old patient before intestinal surgery. The nurse understands that the maximum amount of fluid given is:
A) 150 to 200 mL. B) 200to 400 mL. C) 400 to 750 mL. D) 750 to 1000 mL.
D
More than 1000 mL of fluid causes distention to the point of rupturing the bowel.
A patient starts to experience pain while receiving an enema. The nurse notes blood in the return fluid and rectal bleeding. What action does the nurse take first?
A) Administers pain medication B) Slows down the rate of instillation C) Tells the patient to breathe slowly and relax D) Stops the instillation and obtains vital signs
D
Bleeding is an unexpected outcome. You should stop the procedure, obtain vital signs, and call the health care provider since this is a medical emergency.
A patient is admitted for lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. What color of stool does the nurse anticipate the patient to have?
A) Red
B) Black
C) Green
D) Orange
A
Red-colored stool indicates lower GI bleeding.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a colostomy. Which intervention is most important?
A) Cleansing the stoma with hot water
B) Inserting a deodorant tablet in the stoma bag
C) Selecting a bag with an appropriate-size stoma opening
D) Wearing sterile gloves while caring for the stoma
C
The opening of the appliance should be no larger than 0.15 to 0.3 cm (1/16 to 1/8 inch) surrounding the stoma to ensure that the skin around the stoma is protected from the enzymes present in the effluent without impinging the stoma.
The nurse understands that, when comparing nasogastric tubes used for gastric decompression, a Salem sump is specifically designed to:
A) Minimize the risk of a bowel obstruction. B) Ensure drainage of the intestines. C) Prevent gastric mucosal damage. D) Promote resting the gut.
C
A Salem sump tube has a double lumen. The second lumen is the blue pig-tailed portion that is open to air for the purpose of equalizing the pressure outside the body to inside the stomach. This prevents the tip of the Salem sump from becoming attached to the stomach lining, thus preventing mucosal irritation and bleeding.
Before collecting a stool sample for occult blood, the nurse instructs the nursing assistive personnel to:
A) Ask the patient to void. B) Wash the patient’s perineum. C) Secure a sterile, specimen container. D) Plan to collect the first specimen of the day.
A
Emptying the urinary bladder before collecting the stool sample prevents contamination of the specimen.
The nurse is taking a health history of a newly admitted patient with a diagnosis Rule/out bowel obstruction. Which of the following is the priority question to ask the patient?
A) Describe your bowel movements. B) How often do you have a bowel movement? C) When was the last time you moved your bowels? D) Do you routinely use stool softeners, laxatives, or enemas?
C
Lack of a bowel movement is a sign of a bowel obstruction and is a medical emergency.
The nurse is caring for a 78-year-old man with diarrhea. Of the following problems, which is the most important to consider?
A) Malnutrition B) Dehydration C) Skin breakdown D) Incontinence
B
Diarrhea interferes with absorption time of digestive juices. With frequent loose, watery stools, dehydration becomes a major problem in the older adult.
The nurse recognizes which patient needs to use a fracture pan for a bowel movement?
A) The patient who is obese B) The patient experiencing confusion C) The patient on bed rest D) A patient recovering from hip surgery
D
A fracture pan is used for a patient with back or lower-extremity health issues. Because a fracture pan is shallow in comparison to a regular bedpan, the fracture pan prevents disturbing the patient’s body alignment.
