Chapter 41: Management of Patients with Intestinal and Rectal Disorders

A client is recovering from an ileostomy that was performed to treat inflammatory bowel disease. During discharge teaching, what would the nurse stress the importance of?

Increasing fluid intake to prevent dehydration

Diet modifications for patient diagnosed with chronic inflammatory bowel disease include which of the following?

Low residue

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

Breast

A client informs the nurse of having abdominal pain that is relieved when having a bowel movement. The health care provider diagnosed the client with irritable bowel syndrome. What does the nurse recognize as characteristic of this disorder?

Chronic constipation with sporadic bouts of diarrhea

The nurse is irrigating a colostomy when the patient says, "You will have to stop, I am cramping so badly." What is the priority action by the nurse?

Clamp the tubing and give the patient a rest period.

A client with a 10-year history of Crohn disease is seeing the physician due to increased diarrhea and fatigue. Additionally, the client has developed arthritis and conjunctivitis. What is the most likely cause of the latest symptoms?

Crohn disease

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?

Change in bowel habits

The nurse is teaching a client with an ostomy how to change the pouching system. Which information should the nurse include when teaching a client with no peristomal skin irritation?

Dry skin thoroughly after washing

The instructor is teaching a group of students about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and antidiarrheal agents, the instructor determines that the teaching was effective when the students identify which of the following as an example of an antidiarrheal agent commonly administered for IBS?

Loperamide

A client tells the nurse, "I am not having normal bowel movements." When differentiating between what are normal and abnormal bowel habits, what indicators are the most important?

The consistency of stool and comfort when passing stool

A client reports 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?

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

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?

Usual pattern of elimination

A client is admitted to the emergency department with reports right lower quadrant pain. Blood specimens are drawn and sent to the laboratory. Which laboratory finding should be reported to the health care provider immediately?

White blood cell (WBC) count 22.8/mm3

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?

severe abdominal pain with direct palpation or rebound tenderness

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.

A client has been experiencing lower GI difficulties that have increased in severity, and the gastroenterologist is concerned that the client's bowel is not functioning properly. What function of the lower GI tract is most likely to be affected by the client's disorder?

water and electrolyte absorption

Which of the following is the most common symptom of a polyp?

Rectal bleeding

A client who has undergone colostomy surgery is experiencing constipation. Which intervention should a nurse consider for such a client?

Suggest fluid intake of at least 2 L/day

Which is a true statement regarding regional enteritis (Crohn's disease)?

The clusters of ulcers take on a cobblestone appearance.