NURSING FINAL EXAM UPDATE 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 100 %
CORRECT
● Identify the factors that affect bowel elimination. - CORRECT ANSWES -- The
following factors affect bowel elimination:
● Age
● Stress
● Dietary intake
● Fluid intake
● Activity
● Medications
● Surgery
● Anesthesia
● Pregnancy
● Pathological conditions (e.g., food allergies and intolerances, diverticulosis,
diverticulitis)
● What changes in bowel elimination are associated with constipation? With diarrhea? -
CORRECT ANSWES -- The following changes in bowel elimination are associated with
these conditions:
● Constipation is a decrease in frequency of BMs. As the length of time between BMs
increases, more water is reabsorbed from the feces. As a result, constipation is also
associated with passage of dry, hard stool that requires more effort to pass.
● Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of BMs. As transit time through the colon
decreases, less water is reabsorbed and stools are often watery.
● Why are bowel diversions performed? - CORRECT ANSWES -- A bowel diversion is
a surgically created opening for elimination of digestive waste products from the bowel.
This procedure is performed for clients with a variety of conditions, including cancer,
ulcerations, trauma, or inadequate blood supply. Temporary diversions are performed to
allow healing of the distal portion of the bowel; permanent diversions are performed in
instances of severe disease or trauma when the bowel is necrotic or cannot be
salvaged.
● What determines the nature of the effluent from a bowel diversion? - CORRECT
ANSWES -- The effluent may range from liquid to solid depending on the part of the
,bowel that is being diverted. The lower in the bowel the colostomy is placed (i.e., the
closer to the rectum and anus), the more solid the effluent. Because the fecal matter
stays in the bowel longer, more water can be absorbed from it, and it becomes more
solid.
● What should you discuss with your client when performing a nursing history focused
on bowel elimination? - CORRECT ANSWES -- The following items should be part of a
nursing history focused on bowel elimination:
● Normal bowel pattern
● Appearance of stool
● Changes in bowel habits or stool appearance
● History of elimination problems
● Use of bowel elimination aids, including diet, exercise, medications, and remedies
For a list of questions that you may use to assess each of these areas, go to Chapter
28 of Volume 2, Assessment Guidelines and Tools, Focused Assessment: Bowel
Elimination.
● Describe the physical assessment you would perform for a client with constipation. -
CORRECT ANSWES -- Physical assessment for bowel elimination includes
examination of the abdomen, rectum, and anus.
● Recall that in abdominal assessment, the order of the exam is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation.
● Observe the size, shape, and contour of the abdomen, and listen to bowel sounds.
● Percuss and palpate the abdomen for tenderness, presence of air or solid, and
presence of masses.
● Inspect the anus for signs of hemorrhoids.
● Depending on the policies of your institution as well as your skill with assessment, you
might also palpate the anus and rectum for the presence of stool or masses.
● How can you help a patient adapt psychologically to living with a bowel diversion? -
CORRECT ANSWES -- The following nursing interventions help a patient adapt
psychologically to a bowel diversion (other answers are possible):
● Being willing to talk with a patient about his reaction to the stoma and concerns about
living with an ostomy
● Taking a caring approach when providing stoma care
● Allowing adequate time for the patient to learn about self-care
● Coordinating a visit by a volunteer from the United Ostomy Association
● Providing information about a community support group of people living with an
ostomy or other bowel diversion
● What does a healthy stoma look like? - CORRECT ANSWES -- A healthy stoma is
colored from deep pink to brick red regardless of skin color and is shiny and moist at all
times. The stoma will protrude above the level of the abdomen by approximately 0.5 to
1.0 inches.
, ● Why is skin care around a stoma so important? - CORRECT ANSWES -- Skin care
around a stoma is essential to prevent skin breakdown, which may lead to infection,
discomfort, and leakage of ostomy output from around the appliance.
● What are some reasons that a client may not follow a recommended treatment
regimen? - CORRECT ANSWES -- A client may not follow a treatment regimen
because of the following reasons:
● The person might not understand the treatment.
● The person might not understand the reasons for/importance of the treatment.
● The person may have cultural objections to the treatment.
● The person's lifestyle may interfere; he may not be willing to change his lifestyle.
● Fear of failure.
● Reluctance to ask questions because of fear that the nurse/physician will think he
should know the answers or of reluctance to bother a busy professional.
● Lack of resources (e.g., money to buy pills, transportation to a clinic).
● List at least four things you could do to promote client participation in care and/or
adherence to recommendations for treatment. - CORRECT ANSWES -- The following
actions promote client participation:
● Assess the client's knowledge about her illness and the treatments, and provide the
necessary information
● Assess the client's supports and resources
● Be sensitive to the client's cultural, spiritual, and other needs and viewpoints.
● Realize and accept that some attitudes cannot be changed.
● Determine the client's main concerns.
● Determine the client's priorities.
● Help the client to set realistic goals.
● List the "five rights" of delegation. - CORRECT ANSWES -- These are the "five rights"
of delegation:
● Right task
● Right circumstance (patient)
● Right person (personnel)
● Right direction/communication
● Right supervision
● List at least four characteristics of a "right task"—that is, a task it would be acceptable
to delegate. - CORRECT ANSWES -- Characteristics of a "right task" to delegate
include the following:
● Within the nurse's scope of practice to perform and delegate, as defined by the state
nurse practice act
● Within the LVN/LPN or NAP's scope of practice
● In accordance with agency policies, if they exist
● Does not require complex observations or critical decisions
● Is performed according to a set procedure and requires little innovation
● Does not require repeated nursing assessments
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 100 %
CORRECT
● Identify the factors that affect bowel elimination. - CORRECT ANSWES -- The
following factors affect bowel elimination:
● Age
● Stress
● Dietary intake
● Fluid intake
● Activity
● Medications
● Surgery
● Anesthesia
● Pregnancy
● Pathological conditions (e.g., food allergies and intolerances, diverticulosis,
diverticulitis)
● What changes in bowel elimination are associated with constipation? With diarrhea? -
CORRECT ANSWES -- The following changes in bowel elimination are associated with
these conditions:
● Constipation is a decrease in frequency of BMs. As the length of time between BMs
increases, more water is reabsorbed from the feces. As a result, constipation is also
associated with passage of dry, hard stool that requires more effort to pass.
● Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of BMs. As transit time through the colon
decreases, less water is reabsorbed and stools are often watery.
● Why are bowel diversions performed? - CORRECT ANSWES -- A bowel diversion is
a surgically created opening for elimination of digestive waste products from the bowel.
This procedure is performed for clients with a variety of conditions, including cancer,
ulcerations, trauma, or inadequate blood supply. Temporary diversions are performed to
allow healing of the distal portion of the bowel; permanent diversions are performed in
instances of severe disease or trauma when the bowel is necrotic or cannot be
salvaged.
● What determines the nature of the effluent from a bowel diversion? - CORRECT
ANSWES -- The effluent may range from liquid to solid depending on the part of the
,bowel that is being diverted. The lower in the bowel the colostomy is placed (i.e., the
closer to the rectum and anus), the more solid the effluent. Because the fecal matter
stays in the bowel longer, more water can be absorbed from it, and it becomes more
solid.
● What should you discuss with your client when performing a nursing history focused
on bowel elimination? - CORRECT ANSWES -- The following items should be part of a
nursing history focused on bowel elimination:
● Normal bowel pattern
● Appearance of stool
● Changes in bowel habits or stool appearance
● History of elimination problems
● Use of bowel elimination aids, including diet, exercise, medications, and remedies
For a list of questions that you may use to assess each of these areas, go to Chapter
28 of Volume 2, Assessment Guidelines and Tools, Focused Assessment: Bowel
Elimination.
● Describe the physical assessment you would perform for a client with constipation. -
CORRECT ANSWES -- Physical assessment for bowel elimination includes
examination of the abdomen, rectum, and anus.
● Recall that in abdominal assessment, the order of the exam is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation.
● Observe the size, shape, and contour of the abdomen, and listen to bowel sounds.
● Percuss and palpate the abdomen for tenderness, presence of air or solid, and
presence of masses.
● Inspect the anus for signs of hemorrhoids.
● Depending on the policies of your institution as well as your skill with assessment, you
might also palpate the anus and rectum for the presence of stool or masses.
● How can you help a patient adapt psychologically to living with a bowel diversion? -
CORRECT ANSWES -- The following nursing interventions help a patient adapt
psychologically to a bowel diversion (other answers are possible):
● Being willing to talk with a patient about his reaction to the stoma and concerns about
living with an ostomy
● Taking a caring approach when providing stoma care
● Allowing adequate time for the patient to learn about self-care
● Coordinating a visit by a volunteer from the United Ostomy Association
● Providing information about a community support group of people living with an
ostomy or other bowel diversion
● What does a healthy stoma look like? - CORRECT ANSWES -- A healthy stoma is
colored from deep pink to brick red regardless of skin color and is shiny and moist at all
times. The stoma will protrude above the level of the abdomen by approximately 0.5 to
1.0 inches.
, ● Why is skin care around a stoma so important? - CORRECT ANSWES -- Skin care
around a stoma is essential to prevent skin breakdown, which may lead to infection,
discomfort, and leakage of ostomy output from around the appliance.
● What are some reasons that a client may not follow a recommended treatment
regimen? - CORRECT ANSWES -- A client may not follow a treatment regimen
because of the following reasons:
● The person might not understand the treatment.
● The person might not understand the reasons for/importance of the treatment.
● The person may have cultural objections to the treatment.
● The person's lifestyle may interfere; he may not be willing to change his lifestyle.
● Fear of failure.
● Reluctance to ask questions because of fear that the nurse/physician will think he
should know the answers or of reluctance to bother a busy professional.
● Lack of resources (e.g., money to buy pills, transportation to a clinic).
● List at least four things you could do to promote client participation in care and/or
adherence to recommendations for treatment. - CORRECT ANSWES -- The following
actions promote client participation:
● Assess the client's knowledge about her illness and the treatments, and provide the
necessary information
● Assess the client's supports and resources
● Be sensitive to the client's cultural, spiritual, and other needs and viewpoints.
● Realize and accept that some attitudes cannot be changed.
● Determine the client's main concerns.
● Determine the client's priorities.
● Help the client to set realistic goals.
● List the "five rights" of delegation. - CORRECT ANSWES -- These are the "five rights"
of delegation:
● Right task
● Right circumstance (patient)
● Right person (personnel)
● Right direction/communication
● Right supervision
● List at least four characteristics of a "right task"—that is, a task it would be acceptable
to delegate. - CORRECT ANSWES -- Characteristics of a "right task" to delegate
include the following:
● Within the nurse's scope of practice to perform and delegate, as defined by the state
nurse practice act
● Within the LVN/LPN or NAP's scope of practice
● In accordance with agency policies, if they exist
● Does not require complex observations or critical decisions
● Is performed according to a set procedure and requires little innovation
● Does not require repeated nursing assessments
