Deck 35: Bowel Elimination

Question 1

What is meconium?

A) Semi-digested food
B) Soft brown stool
C) Secreted liquid mucus
D) Dry intestinal secretions

Answer 1

Dry intestinal secretions

Question 2

When educating a breast-feeding mother on the characteristic of the stool of her newborn, the nurse should inform her that the stool will be:

A) dark yellow.
B) bright yellow.
C) beige.
D) brown.

Answer 2

bright yellow.

Question 3

In a toddler, a good indication of spinal cord maturation and ultimate bowel control is:

A) use of flexor and extensor muscles.
B) the ability to walk.
C) parallel play.
D) preference for solid food over milk.

Answer 3

the ability to walk.

Question 4

Which factor is related to developmental changes in bowel habits for older adult clients?

A) Increase in dietary fiber can decrease peristalsis.
B) Milk products cause constipation in clients with lactose intolerance.
C) Weakened pelvic muscles lead to constipation.
D) Older adults should peel fruits before eating.

Question 5

When educating an older adult client on the prevention of constipation, the nurse should provide which educational intervention?

A) Drink three glasses of milk per day.
B) Eat six servings of bread or pasta.
C) Consume antacids to decrease reflux.
D) Increase intake of fresh vegetables.

Question 6

Ignoring the urge to defecate on a continual basis leads to:

A) sudden increase in stool with mucus.
B) constipation and hard stool.
C) need to increase milk intake.
D) total loss of bowel control.

Question 7

The nurse needs to assess the client's elimination patterns. Which client will most likely deny the urge to defecate?

A) Client with anxiety and depression
B) Client who consumes >30 g of fiber
C) Client who has a colostomy
D) Client 3 days' postvaginal delivery

Question 8

Which medication causes constipation?

A) Magnesium antacids
B) Bisacodyl
C) Aspirin
D) Iron supplements

Question 9

Which symptom is a known side effect of antibiotics?

A) Diarrhea
B) Constipation
C) Fecal impaction
D) Abdominal bloating

Question 10

A client has completed an upper gastrointestinal x-ray, small bowel series, and lower gastrointestinal x-ray. Following these x-rays, the nurse will need to administer:

A) a low-residue diet.
B) an antibiotic.
C) a laxative.
D) a high-fiber diet.

Question 11

The type of stool that will be expelled into the ostomy bag by a client who has undergone surgery for an ileostomy will be:

A) bloody.
B) mucus-filled.
C) soft semi-formed.
D) liquid consistency.

Question 12

The nurse understands that which client diversion is considered a continent ostomy?

A) Colostomy
B) Ileostomy
C) Ileal conduit
D) Ileoanal reservoir

Question 13

An older adult client who is wheelchair bound following a cerebrovascular accident is being assessed by the nurse. The nurse notes the client has seepage of stool from the anus. The nurse knows this is indicative of:

A) constipation.
B) diarrhea.
C) fecal impaction.
D) intestinal infection.

Question 14

The proliferation of Clostridium difficile causes:

A) antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
B) Escherichia coli diarrhea.
C) urinary Clostridium infection.
D) anal yeast infection.

Question 15

The nurse is educating a client with a new colostomy on gas-producing foods. Which food is a gas-producing food the client may choose to avoid?

A) Lettuce
B) Rice
C) Brussels sprouts
D) Green peppers

Question 16

A client has had abdominal surgery and 72 hours later develops abdominal distention and absence of bowel sounds with pain. The nurse suspects the client has:

A) a wound infection.
B) need of greater pain relief.
C) increased activity.
D) paralytic ileus.

Question 17

When the nurse performs a Hemoccult test on a stool specimen, blood in the stool will change the color on the test paper to:

A) blue.
B) brown.
C) green.
D) red.

Question 18

An older adult woman who is incontinent of stool following a cerebrovascular accident will have which nursing diagnosis?

A) Bowel incontinence related to loss of sphincter control, as evidenced by inability to delay the urge to defecate
B) Diarrhea related to tube feedings, as evidenced by hyperactive bowel sounds and urgency
C) Constipation related to physiologic condition involving the deficit in neurologic innervation, as evidenced by fecal incontinence
D) Fecal retention related to loss of sphincter control and diminished spinal cord innervation related to hemiparesis

Question 19

When caring for a client with a new colostomy, which assessment finding would be considered abnormal and would need to be reported to the physician?

A) The stoma is pink.
B) The stoma has a small amount of bleeding.
C) The stoma is prolapsed.
D) The stoma is on the abdominal surface.

Question 20

The student nurse is administering a large-volume enema to a client. The client reports abdominal cramping. What should the student nurse do first?

A) Increase the flow of the enema for approximately 30 seconds then decrease it to the prior flow rate.
B) Stop the administration of the enema and notify the physician.
C) Stop the administration of the enema momentarily.
D) Increase the flow of the enema until all of the solution has been administered.

Question 21

The nurse is assisting an older adult client into position for a sigmoidoscopy. Which position would the nurse place the client in?

A) Right lateral
B) Left lateral
C) Prone
D) Semi-Fowler's

Question 22

The student nurse is preparing a presentation on bowel elimination. Which would be a potential cause of diarrhea that the student should include? Select all that apply.

A) Opioids
B) Antibiotics
C) Acute stress
D) Depression
E) Increased physical activity

Question 23

A nurse is providing education to an older adult client concerning ways to prevent constipation. Which diet choices would support that the education was successful? Select all that apply.

A) Hot tea with meals
B) A turkey sandwich with whole-grain bread
C) Prune juice with breakfast
D) Ice cream with lunch and dinner
E) Diet soda with lemon

Question 24

A client is complaining of increased flatulence. What may be a cause of his or her flatulence? Select all that apply.

A) Carbonated beverages
B) Caffeinated beverages
C) Smoking
D) Drinking straws
E) Rapid ingestion of food

Question 25

The student nurse has completed a presentation to a group of senior citizens at average risk on colorectal screening. Which statement by a participant suggests a need for further education?

A) "I will need yearly screenings for colon cancer."
B) "I will have a fecal occult blood test done every 5 years."
C) "I will have a flexible endoscopic exam done every 5 years."
D) "My mother had colon cancer so I am at a greater risk for also developing colon cancer."

Question 26

A client reports constipation. Which assessment question should the nurse initially ask when completing the client's health history, including bowel habits?

A) Do you have a daily bowel movement?
B) How do you handle stress?
C) Do you eat fiber foods every day?
D) What medicines do you take?

Question 27

In the nursing care plan for a client with constipation, the nurse should have an intervention that addresses the number of grams of cellulose that are needed for normal bowel function. How many grams should be in the daily diet?

A) 20 to 30 g
B) 40 to 50 g
C) 60 to 70 g
D) >80 g