The nurse is caring for a patient with abdominal pain.While obtaining a stool specimen for occult blood,the nurse notices that the specimen is black.The nurse recognizes that the color change may be the result of which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Blood in the stool or melena causes stool to turn black and sticky,hence the term tarry stools.Ingestion of iron supplements can also cause the stool to turn black.Stool that is white or clay-color is caused by the absence of bile.Stool that is oily or pale in color is caused by the malabsorption of fat.Liquid brown or yellow stool is caused by diarrhea.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Abdominal Pain