The nurse is caring for a patient who is recovering from bowel surgery. Which assessment finding best indicates that the bowel is starting to resume function and the patient will be able to resume oral intake soon?
A) The patient has bowel sounds x 4 quadrants and is passing gas.
B) The patient has no nausea, and abdominal pain is minimal.
C) The patient feels hungry for chicken soup and hot tea.
D) The patient's nasogastric tube was discontinued the previous day.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of bowel sounds and passage of flatus indicate that the patient's bowels are starting to resume function and the patient will be able to resume oral intake soon. Hunger, discontinuation of the NG tube, or absence of nausea are not definite indicators of readiness to resume oral feedings.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Is Recovering