Nurs 101 fundamental of nursing exam-bowel
elimination 2020 update success guaranteed
The nurse is planning care for a group of patients. Which task will the nurse assign to
the nursing assistive personnel (NAP)?
a. Performing the first postoperative pouch change
b. Maintaining a nasogastric tube
c. Administering an enema
d. Digitally removing stool
ANS: C The skill of administering an enema can be delegated to an NAP. The skill of
inserting and maintaining a nasogastric (NG) tube cannot be delegated to an NAP. The nurse
should do the first postoperative pouch change. Digitally removing stool cannot be delegated to
nursing assistive personnel.
A nurse is assisting a patient in making dietary choices that promote healthy bowel
elimination. Which menu option should the nurse recommend?
a. Broccoli and cheese soup with potato bread
b. Turkey and mashed potatoes with brown gravy
c. Grape and walnut chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread
d. Dinner salad topped with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and fat-free dressing
ANS: C Grapes and whole wheat bread are high fiber and should be chosen. Cheese, eggs,
potato bread, and mashed potatoes do not contain as much fiber as whole wheat bread. A
healthy diet for the bowel should include foods high in bulk-forming fiber. Whole grains, fresh
fruit, and fresh vegetables are excellent sources. Foods without much fiber and with high levels
of fat can slow down peristalsis, causing constipation.
, Nurs 101 fundamental of nursing exam-bowel
elimination 2020 update success guaranteed
A patient is using laxatives three times daily to lose weight. After stopping laxative use, the
patient has difficulty with constipation and wonders if laxatives should be taken again.
Which information will the nurse share with the patient?
Long-term laxative use causes the bowel to become less responsive to stimuli, and
a. constipation may occur.
Laxatives can cause trauma to the intestinal lining and scarring may result, leading to
b. decreased peristalsis.
Long-term use of emollient laxatives is effective for treatment of chronic constipation and
c. may be useful in certain situations.
Laxatives cause the body to become malnourished, so when the patient begins eating again,
d. the body absorbs all of the food, and no waste products are produced.
ANS: A Teach patients about the potential harmful effects of overuse of laxatives, such
as impaired bowel motility and decreased response to sensory stimulus. Make sure the
patient understands that laxatives are not to be used long term for maintenance of bowel
function.
Increasing fluid and fiber intake can help with this problem. Laxatives do not cause scarring.
Even if malnourished, the body will produce waste if any substance is consumed.
A patient with a hip fracture is having difficulty defecating into a bedpan while lying in bed.
Which action by the nurse will assist the patient in having a successful bowel movement?
a. Preparing to administer a barium enema
b. Withholding narcotic pain medication
, Nurs 101 fundamental of nursing exam-bowel
elimination 2020 update success guaranteed
c. Administering laxatives to the patient
d. Raising the head of the bed
ANS: D Lying in bed is an unnatural position; raising the head of the bed assists the patient
into a more normal position that allows proper contraction of muscles for elimination. Laxatives
would not give the patient control over bowel movements. A barium enema is a diagnostic test,
not an intervention to promote defecation. Pain relief measures should be given; however,
preventative action should be taken to prevent constipation.
Which patient is most at risk for increased peristalsis?
a. A 5-year-old child who ignores the urge to defecate owing to embarrassment
b. A 21-year-old female with three final examinations on the same day
c. A 40-year-old female with major depressive disorder
d. An 80-year-old male in an assisted-living environment
ANS: B Stress can stimulate digestion and increase peristalsis, resulting in diarrhea; three
finals on the same day is stressful. Ignoring the urge to defecate, depression, and age-related
changes of the older adult (80-year-old man) are causes of constipation, which is from
slowed peristalsis.
A patient expresses concerns over having black stool. The fecal occult test is negative. Which
response by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. “This is probably a false negative; we should rerun the test.”
b. “You should schedule a colonoscopy as soon as possible.”
elimination 2020 update success guaranteed
The nurse is planning care for a group of patients. Which task will the nurse assign to
the nursing assistive personnel (NAP)?
a. Performing the first postoperative pouch change
b. Maintaining a nasogastric tube
c. Administering an enema
d. Digitally removing stool
ANS: C The skill of administering an enema can be delegated to an NAP. The skill of
inserting and maintaining a nasogastric (NG) tube cannot be delegated to an NAP. The nurse
should do the first postoperative pouch change. Digitally removing stool cannot be delegated to
nursing assistive personnel.
A nurse is assisting a patient in making dietary choices that promote healthy bowel
elimination. Which menu option should the nurse recommend?
a. Broccoli and cheese soup with potato bread
b. Turkey and mashed potatoes with brown gravy
c. Grape and walnut chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread
d. Dinner salad topped with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and fat-free dressing
ANS: C Grapes and whole wheat bread are high fiber and should be chosen. Cheese, eggs,
potato bread, and mashed potatoes do not contain as much fiber as whole wheat bread. A
healthy diet for the bowel should include foods high in bulk-forming fiber. Whole grains, fresh
fruit, and fresh vegetables are excellent sources. Foods without much fiber and with high levels
of fat can slow down peristalsis, causing constipation.
, Nurs 101 fundamental of nursing exam-bowel
elimination 2020 update success guaranteed
A patient is using laxatives three times daily to lose weight. After stopping laxative use, the
patient has difficulty with constipation and wonders if laxatives should be taken again.
Which information will the nurse share with the patient?
Long-term laxative use causes the bowel to become less responsive to stimuli, and
a. constipation may occur.
Laxatives can cause trauma to the intestinal lining and scarring may result, leading to
b. decreased peristalsis.
Long-term use of emollient laxatives is effective for treatment of chronic constipation and
c. may be useful in certain situations.
Laxatives cause the body to become malnourished, so when the patient begins eating again,
d. the body absorbs all of the food, and no waste products are produced.
ANS: A Teach patients about the potential harmful effects of overuse of laxatives, such
as impaired bowel motility and decreased response to sensory stimulus. Make sure the
patient understands that laxatives are not to be used long term for maintenance of bowel
function.
Increasing fluid and fiber intake can help with this problem. Laxatives do not cause scarring.
Even if malnourished, the body will produce waste if any substance is consumed.
A patient with a hip fracture is having difficulty defecating into a bedpan while lying in bed.
Which action by the nurse will assist the patient in having a successful bowel movement?
a. Preparing to administer a barium enema
b. Withholding narcotic pain medication
, Nurs 101 fundamental of nursing exam-bowel
elimination 2020 update success guaranteed
c. Administering laxatives to the patient
d. Raising the head of the bed
ANS: D Lying in bed is an unnatural position; raising the head of the bed assists the patient
into a more normal position that allows proper contraction of muscles for elimination. Laxatives
would not give the patient control over bowel movements. A barium enema is a diagnostic test,
not an intervention to promote defecation. Pain relief measures should be given; however,
preventative action should be taken to prevent constipation.
Which patient is most at risk for increased peristalsis?
a. A 5-year-old child who ignores the urge to defecate owing to embarrassment
b. A 21-year-old female with three final examinations on the same day
c. A 40-year-old female with major depressive disorder
d. An 80-year-old male in an assisted-living environment
ANS: B Stress can stimulate digestion and increase peristalsis, resulting in diarrhea; three
finals on the same day is stressful. Ignoring the urge to defecate, depression, and age-related
changes of the older adult (80-year-old man) are causes of constipation, which is from
slowed peristalsis.
A patient expresses concerns over having black stool. The fecal occult test is negative. Which
response by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. “This is probably a false negative; we should rerun the test.”
b. “You should schedule a colonoscopy as soon as possible.”
