MCQ Exam

Question 1

Urinary retention is…

Answer 1

Inability to completely empty the bladder

Question 2

The patient is an 86-year-old male who is incontinent at night. An appropriate
alternative to catheterization for this patient would be:

Answer 2

• Less fluid in the evening
• Urodome
• Regular toileting
• Antidiuretic medication
• Incontinence pad

Question 3

The mechanism of action of the oral laxative docusate sodium (coloxyl) is:

Answer 3

Increases the amount of water the stool absorbs in the gut

Question 4

The nurse begins to suspect faecal impaction in a patient who has not passed a stool in 10
days when the patient

Answer 4

• Abdo pain
• Liquid stool – overflow
• Malaise
• Persistent urge
• Bleeding
• Absent bowel sounds
• Distended lower ab
• Tenderness on palpation
• Dull sounds on percussion

Question 5

An elderly patient states that she is worried because she has not had a bowel movement
each day. The nurse’s best response concerning defecation patterns for elderly people
would be:

Answer 5

Older adults are prone to developing constipation for a number of factors:

• Physiological: lack of fibre in diet, poor fluid intake, poor dentition
• Functional: decrease in mobility
• Psychological: depression, confusion, stress, avoidance
• Systemic: any condition that alters physiology
• Pharmacological: medications

Question 6

Ascites is defined as:

Answer 6

Abnormal accumulation of fluid with in the abdomen

Question 7

What is a normal finding on palpation of the abdomen?

Answer 7

• abdo is nontender and soft, no guarding with light palpation
• normal tenderness of xiphoid, aorta, caecum sigmoid colon and ovaries with deep palpation
• no palpable masses and umbilicus free or swelling, bulges or masses on deep palpation

Question 8

When inspecting a client’s abdominal contour, the nurse observes the abdomen to be
sunken with the lower edges of the ribs visible. The nurse describes and documents this as:

Answer 8

Scaphoid