Fundamentals Bowel

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?"

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 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."

Which of the following are warning signs of possible colorectal cancer according to the American Cancer Society guidelines?

-Change in bowel habits -Blood in stool -Incomplete emptying of the colon -Unexplained abdominal or back pain

Most nutrients are absorbed in the duodenum with the exception of certain vitamins, iron, and salt (which are absorbed in the ileum). Food is broken down in the stomach. The cecum is the beginning of the large intestine.The nurse knows that most nutrients are absorbed in which portion of the digestive tract?

-Duodenum

Which of the following pathogens are typically suspected when obtaining a stool for culture? Select all that apply:

-H Pylori -C Diff

Which skills do you teach a patient with a new colostomy before discharge from the hospital?

-How to change the pouch -How to empty the pouch -How to open and close the pouch -How to determine if the ostomy is healing appropriately

Which instructions do you include when educating a person with chronic constipation?

-Increase fiber and fluids in diet -Exercise 30 mins per day -Schedule time to use toilet at the same time every day

Bright red color in/on the stool sample of a female patient may indicate which of the following? (Select all that apply).

-The patient may have eaten beets -The patient could have a lower GI bleed -The patient may be menstrating -The patient may have hemorrhoids

A nursing student has just received education about instilling a Tube feeding by bolus. Which one of the following statements suggests that more education is needed?

-This feeding is considered "continuous" feeding by gravity -Ensure the head is elevated at least 30 degrees

A nurse is preparing to administer a cleansing enema to an adult client in preparation for a diagnostic procedure. Which of the following steps should the nurse take?

-Warm the enema solution prior to instillation -Position the client on the left side with the right leg flexed forward. -Lubricate the rectal tube or nozzle

When inserting an NG tube, sometimes slight resistance is met. Which of the following are appropriate actions? Select all that apply:

-advance the tube gently after pulling back slightly -check for curling of the tube in the back of the throat

If the RN is collecting a stool culture, which of the following are the suspected pathogens in the sample? Select all that apply.

-clostridium difficile -Helicobacter pylori

A nurse is caring for a client who has had diarrhea for 4 days. When assessing the client, the nurse should expect which of the following findings?

-hypotension -elevated temperature -poor skin turgor

Which of the following describe how a soap suds enema facilitates evacuation of the bowel? Select all that apply.

-stretches rectal wall -Breaks up fecal matter -stimulates peristalsis

Which patient is most at risk for increased peristalsis?

21-year-old patient with three final examinations on the same day

The nurse is assessing for correct placement of a nasogastric tube. The nurse aspirates the stomach contents and checks the gastric pH. The nurse verifies correct tube placement if which pH value is noted?

3.5

Although RN should check the institution policy on how long a tube feeding formula can hang in the bag, in general, how long is it safe to leave formula hanging?

4 hours

The nurse 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 of the following nursing actions do you take after placing a bedpan under an immobilized patient?

After positioning the patient on the bedpan, elevate the head of the bed to a 45 degree angle

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.

The nurse would expect the least formed stool to be present in which portion of the digestive tract?

Ascending colon

The nurse knows that the ideal time to change an ostomy pouch is

Before eating a meal, when the patient is comfortable

A guaiac test has been ordered. The nurse knows that this is a test for

Blood that cant be seen

The nurse is assessing a patient 2 hours after a colonoscopy. Based on the procedure done, what focused assessment will the nurse include?

Bowel sounds

A nurse is teaching a patient to obtain a specimen for fecal occult blood testing using fecal immunochemical (FIT) testing at home. How does the nurse instruct the patient to collect this specimen?

Collect one fecal smear from three separate bowel movements

A nurse is caring for a patient who has had diarrhea for the past week. Which additional assessment finding would the nurse expect?

Decreased sodium bicarbonate

An elderly patient comes to the hospital with a complaint of severe weakness and diarrhea for several days. Of the following problems, which is the most important to assess initially?

Dehydration

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 knows that most nutrients are absorbed in which portion of the digestive tract?

Duodenum

A nurse is caring for an older adult patient with fecal incontinence due to cathartic use. The nurse is most concerned about which complication that has the greatest risk for severe injury?

Falls from attempts to reach the bathroom

A nurse is talking with a client who reports constipation. When the nurse discusses dietary changes that can help prevent constipation, which of the following foods should the nurse recommend?

Fresh fruit and whole wheat toast

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 healthy diet for the bowel should include foods high in bulk-forming fiber. Whole grains, fresh fruit, and fresh vegetables are excellent sources. Foods without much fiber and with high levels of fat can slow down peristalsis, causing constipation.

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

A nurse is performing an assessment on a patient who has not had a bowel movement in 3 days. The nurse would expect which other assessment finding?

Hypoactive bowel sounds

A nursing student has just received education about instilling a Tube feeding by bolus. Which one of the following statements suggests that more education is needed?

I should ensure the head of bed is elevated at least 30 degrees when I instill the feeding.

What do you need to teach family caregivers when a patient has fecal incontinence as a result of cognitive impairment?

Initiate bowel or habit training program to promote continence

A patient has not had a bowel movement in 4 days. Now she has nausea and severe cramping throughout her abdomen. On the basis of these findings, what do you suspect is wrong with the patient?

Intestinal obstruction

Which of the following is the most accurate description of a stoma from a new (24 hours old) colostomy.

It is moist and red

For a patient who has had surgery to perform a colostomy within the past 24 hours, which of the following is most accurate to how the stoma will appear?

It will be moist and red

The nurse should place the patient in which position when preparing to administer an enema?

Left sims

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.

While a nurse is administering a cleansing enema, the client reports abdominal cramping. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Lower the enema fluid container

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

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.

The nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridium difficile. Which of the following nursing actions will have the greatest impact in preventing the spread of bacteria?

Poor hand hygiene techniques

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

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 is inserting a nasogastric tube in an adult client. During the procedure, the client begins to cough and has difficulty breathing. What is the most appropriate nursing action?

Pull back on the tube and wait until the respiratory distress subsides.

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

Fecal impactions occur in which portion of the colon?

Rectum

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.

Which of the following tubes has an air vent, sometimes referred to as a pigtail?

Salem Sump

A patient is diagnosed with a bowel obstruction. The nurse chooses which type of tube for gastric decompression?

Salem sump

Which of the following tubes have an air vent ?

Salem sump pump

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

What nursing intervention is most important when caring for a patient with an ileostomy?

Selecting or cutting a pouch with an appropriate size stoma opening

Which one of the following is true regarding why it is critical to check tube placement before entering an NG tube in any way?

So that no fluids or feedings are introduced into the lungs mistakenly

The nurse is caring for a patient who had a colostomy placed yesterday. The nurse reports which assessment is found immediately?

Stoma is purple

During the administration of a warm tap water enema, a patient complains of cramping abdominal pain that he rates 6 out of 10. What is the priority nursing intervention?

Stop the instillation

What position must the patient be in when checking for abdominal girth?

Supine

A patient has constipation and hypernatremia. The nurse prepares to administer which type of enema?

Tap water

patient has constipation and hypernatremia. The nurse prepares to administer which type of enema?

Tap water

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.

A nurse is caring for a client who will perform fecal occult blood testing at home. Which of the following information should the nurse include when explaining the procedure to the client?

The specimen cannot be contaminated with urine.

The nurse would anticipate which diagnostic examination for a patient with black tarry stools?

Upper endoscopy

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.

A patient who has been on a medication that caused diarrhea is now off the medication. What would the nurse suggest to promote the return of normal flora?

eating fermented products, such as yogurt

Neoangiogensis

for wound vac