Chapter 47: Management of Patients With Intestinal and Rectal Disorders 1

severe abdominal pain with direct palpation or rebound tenderness

A nursing assessment of a client with peritonitis reveals hypotension, tachycardia, and signs and symptoms of dehydration. What else would the nurse expect to find?

hypokalemia

The nurse caring for an older adult client diagnosed with diarrhea is administering and monitoring the client's medications. Because one of the client's medications is digitalis (digoxin), the nurse monitors the client closely for:

Notify the health care provider.

The nurse is admitting a client with a diagnosis of diverticulitis and assesses that the client has a boardlike abdomen, no bowel sounds, and reports of severe abdominal pain. What is the nurse's first action?

usual pattern of elimination.

The nurse is assessing a client for constipation. To identify the cause of constipation, the nurse should begin by reviewing the client's:

Usual pattern of elimination

The nurse is assessing a client for constipation. Which factor should the nurse review first to identify the cause of constipation?

Usual pattern of elimination

The nurse is assessing a client for constipation. Which review should the nurse conduct first to identify the cause of constipation?

They can be habit forming and will require increasing doses to be effective.

A client informs the nurse that he is taking a stimulant laxative in order to be able to have a bowel movement daily. What should the nurse inform the client about taking a stimulant laxative?

Test all stools for occult blood.

A client is admitted to the hospital for diagnostic testing to rule out colorectal cancer. Which intervention should the nurse include on the plan of care?

Right lower quadrant

A client is admitted with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. When assessing the abdomen, the nurse would expect to find rebound tenderness at which location?

fissure

A client reports severe pain and bleeding while having a bowel movement. Upon inspection, the health care provider notes a linear tear in the anal canal tissue. The client is diagnosed with a:

Hypokalemia

An elderly client diagnosed with diarrhea is taking digoxin. Which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse be alert to?

Breast

In women, which of the following types of cancer exceeds colorectal cancer?

Change in bowel habits

Which is the most common presenting symptom of colon cancer?

Keep a 1- to 2-week symptom and food diary to identify food triggers.

A patient with irritable bowel syndrome has been having more frequent symptoms lately and is not sure what lifestyle changes may have occurred. What suggestion can the nurse provide to identify a trigger for the symptoms?

Drink 8 to 10 glasses of fluid daily.

The nurse is conducting discharge teaching for a client with diverticulosis. Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching?

Polyps

A nurse is interviewing a client about past medical history. Which preexisting condition may lead the nurse to suspect that a client has colorectal cancer?

"I need to use laxatives regularly to prevent constipation."

A nurse is teaching an older adult client about good bowel habits. Which statement by the client indicates to the nurse that additional teaching is required?

Anal fissure

The nurse is performing a rectal assessment and notices a longitudinal tear or ulceration in the lining of the anal canal. The nurse documents the finding as which condition?

Stool cultures negative for microorganisms or parasite

The nurse is reviewing the laboratory test results of a client with Crohn disease. Which of the following would the nurse most likely find?

Change in bowel habits

The nurse is talking with a group of clients who are older than age 50 years about the recognition of colon cancer to access early intervention. What should the nurse inform the clients to report immediately to their primary care provider?