A patient hospitalized with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis is having 14 to 16 bloody stools a day and crampy abdominal pain associated with the diarrhea. The nurse will plan to

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An initial therapy for an acute exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is to rest the bowel by making the patient NPO. Cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂) is absorbed in the ileum, which is not affected by ulcerative colitis. Although total colectomy is needed for some patients, there is no indication that this patient is a candidate. Metoclopramide increases peristalsis and will worsen symptoms.

A Patient Hospitalized with an Acute Exacerbation of Ulcerative Colitis