Question 1

A patient scheduled for bowel surgery has an order to receive enemas until clear. The nurse is aware that no more than three enemas should be given because:

Accepted Answer

No more than three large volume enemas are given because of possible electrolyte depletion.

Question 2

A patient calls the nurse at the health clinic and reports that since his trip to Mexico, he has been experiencing diarrhea. The nurse suggests he try the antidiarrheal drug:

Accepted Answer

Loperamide (Imodium) is an antidiarrheal; the rest are used to prevent or treat constipation.

Question 3

A patient has just completed a series of upper gastrointestinal tract radiographs that involved the use of barium as a contrast agent. Which measure will this patient need to help excrete the barium?

Accepted Answer

To get rid of the barium, the patient's fluid intake should be increased to 3.5 L, or 3500 mL, and the patient should be given a laxative.

Question 4

A patient who is badly constipated has just received an oil retention enema. The nurse encourages this patient to try to hold the enema for at least how long before trying to have a bowel movement?

Accepted Answer

The oil retention enema should be retained for 20 minutes.

Question 5

The nurse should plan interventions to combat constipation in a patient:

Accepted Answer

A patient who is undergoing barium radiograph studies is more prone to constipation than are the other patients.

Question 6

The nurse has documented that a patient has had two episodes of steatorrhea, which means that the character of the stool is:

Accepted Answer

Steatorrhea is defined as stools with abnormally high fat content that are usually frothy, foul smelling, and float on water.

Question 7

A patient with a new colostomy should have the hole in the faceplate cut to allow _____ inch around the stoma.

Accepted Answer

The faceplate should allow 1/4 inch around the colostomy stoma.

Question 8

A nurse has performed abdominal assessments on four patients. After reviewing the findings, the nurse is least concerned about problems with bowel elimination for the patient with:

Accepted Answer

Normal abdominal assessment data are an abdomen that is soft and nondistended and that has active bowel sounds in all four quadrants.

Question 9

An ambulatory clinic patient telephones to report diarrhea and to ask for advice on medication to manage it. The best response by the nurse is, "Do not use antidiarrheal medication for longer than:

Accepted Answer

Antidiarrheal medication should not be continued for more than 48 hours without calling a primary care provider.

Question 10

An older adult patient who routinely takes the bulk forming laxative psyllium (Metamucil) is counseled by the home health nurse that in order to prevent constipation and possible fecal impaction, this patient should be sure to take:

Accepted Answer

A large amount of fluid should be taken to prevent constipation and fecal impaction when using a product with psyllium.

Question 11

A nurse is digitally removing a fecal impaction from a patient. The nurse should stop the procedure immediately and take corrective action if the patient's:

Accepted Answer

Stimulation of the sphincter may cause a vagal response as evidenced by bradycardia.

Question 12

A patient who has started antibiotic therapy is having diarrhea as a side effect of the medication. The nurse should encourage the patient to eat:

Accepted Answer

Diarrhea results from the loss of normal intestinal bacteria that are also killed during treatment with antibiotics used to treat a different infection; eating yogurt or drinking buttermilk can help restore normal intestinal flora.

Question 13

There is an order to administer a cleansing enema to an adult patient before bowel surgery. The nurse will fill the enema bag with how many milliliters of fluid for this procedure?

Accepted Answer

The volume of the cleansing enema depends on the age of the patient-for adults, it is between 500 and 1000 mL.

Question 14

The nurse caring for a patient with lactose intolerance would anticipate the need to offer interventions for:

Accepted Answer

Lactose intolerance is the name for the condition in which diarrhea occurs after consuming milk products.

Question 15

The nurse has assessed that a patient's stool has changed from brown to dark black and sticky. The nurse suspects:

Accepted Answer

Occult or old blood is suspected when stool changes from a normal brown appearance to a dark black color with a sticky appearance.

Question 16

A nurse is assisting a patient with a new continent ileostomy to catheterize the internal reservoir to drain the ileostomy. When the catheter meets resistance from the internal valve, the nurse should:

Accepted Answer

For some patients the taking of a deep breath relaxes muscles and allows passage of the catheter.

Question 17

A nurse is monitoring bowel elimination of a patient who has a history of constipation. The nurse implements measures to assist with bowel elimination if the patient has not had a bowel movement within how many days?

Accepted Answer

If bowel evacuation has not occurred within 3 days, measures should be taken to assist the patient.

Question 18

A nurse is reinforcing education with a patient who will begin a bowel training program. An intervention this program does not include is:

Accepted Answer

Enemas and stronger laxatives are not considered a part of the program.

Question 19

An older adult resident in a long-term care facility has experienced constant diarrhea for 3 days and is now exhibiting signs and symptoms of dehydration. The nurse initiates an intervention to offer small amounts of ________ frequently.

Accepted Answer

The patient may be developing electrolyte imbalance because of the diarrhea, so the best fluid source to offer is Gatorade, which has sodium and potassium. This should be offered 1 to 2 ounces at a time.

Question 20

A nurse is preparing a cleansing enema for an adult patient who is constipated and has not responded to laxative use. Before giving the enema, the nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Solution that is too cool cannot be retained, and solution that is too hot may cause injury to rectal tissues; it is best to warm it to 105° F.

Quiz 30: Promoting Bowel Elimination