The nurse is assessing a patient's bowel sounds.After auscultating each quadrant for 30 seconds,the nurse fails to hear any sounds.How should the nurse document this finding?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hypoactive bowel sounds can be noted in the medical record when no sounds are heard after listening in each of the four quadrants for 30 seconds.For bowel sounds to be considered absent,it is necessary to verify that no sounds are heard after listening in each of the four quadrants for 5 minutes.If hyperactive,high-pitched sounds are heard in one quadrant,and decreased sounds are heard in another quadrant,assess for nausea and vomiting,as the patient may have an intestinal obstruction.

The Nurse Is Assessing a Patient's Bowel Sounds