NR 224 Final Practice Exam
(Questions, Correct answers and
Rationales) 2026/2027
1. A nurse is teaching a client how to perform personal ileostomy care prior to discharge. The client says “I don’t
think that I am going to be able to take care of this myself.” Which is the most appropriate response from the
nurse?
a. In time you will be better at this than I am.
b. Don’t worry about it, most clients feel like you do at first.
c. What part of the ileostomy care are you having trouble with?
d. I agree. This is a difficult process.
This response opens up communication about the client’s real concerns and enables the nurse to address teaching
moments to help them feel more confident with self-care. The other responses are not therapeutic and dismiss the
client’s concerns.
Question 2
The adult child of a client who has had a colon resection will be caring for their parent at home. The client’s son tells the
nurse “I don’t know how I am going to care for my mom now”. Which is the best nursing response?
a. A home health nurse will be stopping by tomorrow to answer your questions.
b. Your mother has been taught to care for her colostomy independently.
c. What part of your mother’s care are you concerned with?
d. It is quite simple. I’ll change the colostomy bag before she is discharged.
This gives the client an opportunity to discuss their concerns with the nurse. The nurse can then make an appropriate plan
to assure the family and client receive any supportive care after discharge. The other responses do not encourage
discussion and belittle the son’s concerns.
Question 3
,A nurse in the medical-surgical unit is assigning client care to a nurse who is floating from PACU. The float nurse is most
qualified to care for which client?
a. A client who is postoperative following a lobectomy and has a chest tube
b. A client who is being discharged to a long-term care facility
c. A client who needs teaching prior to initiating cardiac rehabilitation activities
d. A client who needs teaching about insulin self-administration
Float nurses should be assigned to an area for which they have been trained and have experience.
Question 4
A client asks the nurse what causes constipation. Choose the best response by the nurse.
Correct Answer
a. Constipation occurs when the bowel absorbs too much water
b. Eating too many processed foods cause constipation
c. When the bowel releases too much water it causes constipation
d. Using over the counter laxatives causes constipation
Constipation occurs when the large intestine absorbs too much fluid. Clients are encouraged to increase high fiber foods
along with drinking plenty of fluids to maintain regularity. Diarrhea is caused when the bowel releases too much
water. Using over the counter laxatives may cause diarrhea, not constipation.
Question 5
The nurse caring for a post-operative client performs an abdominal assessment. The nurse does not hear any bowel
sounds over the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. What is the most likely reason for this?
a. The client has been NPO for several hours
b. Post-operative clients may develop an ileus resulting in absent bowel sounds
c. There is gas in the abdomen
d. The client emptied their bowels before surgery
An ileus is a portion of the bowel where peristalsis has temporarily slowed or stopped. The nurse will not auscultate bowel
sounds in the area of an ileus. NPO status would result in hypoactive bowel sounds throughout the entire abdomen. Gas in
the intestine would cause high-pitched bowel sounds. Emptying the bowel before surgery would have little to no effect on
bowel sounds.
,Question 6
The nurse admits a client who is to undergo a colonoscopy. The nurse understands that this will be required in preparation
for the procedure.
a. NPO status for 24 hours
b. A complete bowel cleanse
c. Clear liquids after midnight
d. A fleet enema to prep the bowel
Clients who will undergo a colonoscopy usually remain NPO for 8-12 hours prior to the procedure. A complete bowel
cleanse is required to rid the area of stool that may interfere with visualization and collection of tissue specimens. A fleet
enema alone would not be enough to clear the bowel.
Question 7
A nurse is teaching a client about colorectal cancer testing. The nurse expects the provider to first perform this test for
colorectal screening.
a. Colonoscopy
b. Barium enema
c. Fecal occult blood test
d. Cat scan of the lower intestine
The provider will first do a fecal occult blood (guiac) test to determine the presence of microscopic blood in the stool. This
is often an early sign of colorectal cancer. The other procedures may be done as a follow-up to the guiac test.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client with a newly placed colostomy. The nurse teaches the client they may have formed stool after
the bowel has healed because the surgeon placed the stoma where?
a. Ascending colon
b. Transverse colon
c. Descending colon
d. Sigmoid colon
, Ostomies placed in the sigmoid colon may eventually have formed stool. The lower down in the colon that the ostomy is
placed, the more likely the client will have formed stool. Higher ostomy positioning results in liquid or semi-formed stool.
Question 9
The nurse is administering a tap water enema to a client in preparation for bowel surgery. The nurse correctly positions
the enema bag containing the fluid where?
a. 12 inches above the anus for a regular enema
b. 6-10 inches above the anus for a high enema
c. To shoulder height then lower it 6 inches
d. On an IV pole 18 inches above the bed
The correct placement for a regular enema is to hold the container 12 inches above the client’s anus.
Question 10
The nurse correctly positions a client for a fleets enema by placing them in this position:
a. Supine with the knees flexed
b. Prone with the right leg flexed
c. On the left side with the right leg flexed
d. On the right side with both knees flexed
Correct positioning for administering an enema is to place the client on their left side with their right leg bent to follow the
natural curve of the colon.
Question 11
The nurse is preparing a new ostomy flange for the client’s abdomen. Choose the correct action by the nurse.
a. Scrub the skin on the abdomen with antiseptic soap
b. Report the appearance of a red, moist stoma
c. After measuring the diameter of the stoma cut the opening of the wafer
d. Tape the wafer in place in a window-pane format
(Questions, Correct answers and
Rationales) 2026/2027
1. A nurse is teaching a client how to perform personal ileostomy care prior to discharge. The client says “I don’t
think that I am going to be able to take care of this myself.” Which is the most appropriate response from the
nurse?
a. In time you will be better at this than I am.
b. Don’t worry about it, most clients feel like you do at first.
c. What part of the ileostomy care are you having trouble with?
d. I agree. This is a difficult process.
This response opens up communication about the client’s real concerns and enables the nurse to address teaching
moments to help them feel more confident with self-care. The other responses are not therapeutic and dismiss the
client’s concerns.
Question 2
The adult child of a client who has had a colon resection will be caring for their parent at home. The client’s son tells the
nurse “I don’t know how I am going to care for my mom now”. Which is the best nursing response?
a. A home health nurse will be stopping by tomorrow to answer your questions.
b. Your mother has been taught to care for her colostomy independently.
c. What part of your mother’s care are you concerned with?
d. It is quite simple. I’ll change the colostomy bag before she is discharged.
This gives the client an opportunity to discuss their concerns with the nurse. The nurse can then make an appropriate plan
to assure the family and client receive any supportive care after discharge. The other responses do not encourage
discussion and belittle the son’s concerns.
Question 3
,A nurse in the medical-surgical unit is assigning client care to a nurse who is floating from PACU. The float nurse is most
qualified to care for which client?
a. A client who is postoperative following a lobectomy and has a chest tube
b. A client who is being discharged to a long-term care facility
c. A client who needs teaching prior to initiating cardiac rehabilitation activities
d. A client who needs teaching about insulin self-administration
Float nurses should be assigned to an area for which they have been trained and have experience.
Question 4
A client asks the nurse what causes constipation. Choose the best response by the nurse.
Correct Answer
a. Constipation occurs when the bowel absorbs too much water
b. Eating too many processed foods cause constipation
c. When the bowel releases too much water it causes constipation
d. Using over the counter laxatives causes constipation
Constipation occurs when the large intestine absorbs too much fluid. Clients are encouraged to increase high fiber foods
along with drinking plenty of fluids to maintain regularity. Diarrhea is caused when the bowel releases too much
water. Using over the counter laxatives may cause diarrhea, not constipation.
Question 5
The nurse caring for a post-operative client performs an abdominal assessment. The nurse does not hear any bowel
sounds over the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. What is the most likely reason for this?
a. The client has been NPO for several hours
b. Post-operative clients may develop an ileus resulting in absent bowel sounds
c. There is gas in the abdomen
d. The client emptied their bowels before surgery
An ileus is a portion of the bowel where peristalsis has temporarily slowed or stopped. The nurse will not auscultate bowel
sounds in the area of an ileus. NPO status would result in hypoactive bowel sounds throughout the entire abdomen. Gas in
the intestine would cause high-pitched bowel sounds. Emptying the bowel before surgery would have little to no effect on
bowel sounds.
,Question 6
The nurse admits a client who is to undergo a colonoscopy. The nurse understands that this will be required in preparation
for the procedure.
a. NPO status for 24 hours
b. A complete bowel cleanse
c. Clear liquids after midnight
d. A fleet enema to prep the bowel
Clients who will undergo a colonoscopy usually remain NPO for 8-12 hours prior to the procedure. A complete bowel
cleanse is required to rid the area of stool that may interfere with visualization and collection of tissue specimens. A fleet
enema alone would not be enough to clear the bowel.
Question 7
A nurse is teaching a client about colorectal cancer testing. The nurse expects the provider to first perform this test for
colorectal screening.
a. Colonoscopy
b. Barium enema
c. Fecal occult blood test
d. Cat scan of the lower intestine
The provider will first do a fecal occult blood (guiac) test to determine the presence of microscopic blood in the stool. This
is often an early sign of colorectal cancer. The other procedures may be done as a follow-up to the guiac test.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client with a newly placed colostomy. The nurse teaches the client they may have formed stool after
the bowel has healed because the surgeon placed the stoma where?
a. Ascending colon
b. Transverse colon
c. Descending colon
d. Sigmoid colon
, Ostomies placed in the sigmoid colon may eventually have formed stool. The lower down in the colon that the ostomy is
placed, the more likely the client will have formed stool. Higher ostomy positioning results in liquid or semi-formed stool.
Question 9
The nurse is administering a tap water enema to a client in preparation for bowel surgery. The nurse correctly positions
the enema bag containing the fluid where?
a. 12 inches above the anus for a regular enema
b. 6-10 inches above the anus for a high enema
c. To shoulder height then lower it 6 inches
d. On an IV pole 18 inches above the bed
The correct placement for a regular enema is to hold the container 12 inches above the client’s anus.
Question 10
The nurse correctly positions a client for a fleets enema by placing them in this position:
a. Supine with the knees flexed
b. Prone with the right leg flexed
c. On the left side with the right leg flexed
d. On the right side with both knees flexed
Correct positioning for administering an enema is to place the client on their left side with their right leg bent to follow the
natural curve of the colon.
Question 11
The nurse is preparing a new ostomy flange for the client’s abdomen. Choose the correct action by the nurse.
a. Scrub the skin on the abdomen with antiseptic soap
b. Report the appearance of a red, moist stoma
c. After measuring the diameter of the stoma cut the opening of the wafer
d. Tape the wafer in place in a window-pane format
