CH47: Bowel Elimination Exam Questions
With Complete Solutions (Verified And
Updated)
The nurse is teaching a health class about the gastrointestinal tract. The nurse will explain that which
portion of the digestive tract absorbs most of the nutrients?
a. Ileum
b. Cecum
c. Stomach
d. Duodenum
ANS: D
The duodenum and jejunum absorb most nutrients and electrolytes in the small intestine. The ileum
absorbs certain vitamins, iron, and bile salts. Food is broken down in the stomach. The cecum is the
beginning of the large intestine.
The nurse is caring for patients with ostomies. In which ostomy location will the nurse expect very
liquid stool to be present?
a. Sigmoid
b. Transverse
c. Ascending
d. Descending
ANS: C
The path of digestion goes from the ascending, across the transverse, to the descending and finally
passing into the sigmoid; therefore, the least formed stool (very liquid) would be in the ascending.
A nurse is teaching a patient about the large intestine in elimination. In which order will the nurse list
the structures, starting with the first portion?
a. Cecum, ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, and rectum
b. Ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, rectum, and cecum
c. Cecum, sigmoid, ascending, transverse, descending, and rectum
d. Ascending, transverse, descending, rectum, sigmoid, and cecum
ANS: A
The large intestine is divided into the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon,
sigmoid colon, and rectum. The large intestine is the primary organ of bowel elimination.
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.
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?
a. Long-term laxative use causes the bowel to become less responsive to stimuli, and constipation
may occur.
b. Laxatives can cause trauma to the intestinal lining and scarring may result, leading to decreased
peristalsis.
c. Long-term use of emollient laxatives is effective for treatment of chronic constipation and may be
useful in certain situations.
d. Laxatives cause the body to become malnourished, so when the patient begins eating again, 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
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."
c. "Are you under a lot of stress?"
With Complete Solutions (Verified And
Updated)
The nurse is teaching a health class about the gastrointestinal tract. The nurse will explain that which
portion of the digestive tract absorbs most of the nutrients?
a. Ileum
b. Cecum
c. Stomach
d. Duodenum
ANS: D
The duodenum and jejunum absorb most nutrients and electrolytes in the small intestine. The ileum
absorbs certain vitamins, iron, and bile salts. Food is broken down in the stomach. The cecum is the
beginning of the large intestine.
The nurse is caring for patients with ostomies. In which ostomy location will the nurse expect very
liquid stool to be present?
a. Sigmoid
b. Transverse
c. Ascending
d. Descending
ANS: C
The path of digestion goes from the ascending, across the transverse, to the descending and finally
passing into the sigmoid; therefore, the least formed stool (very liquid) would be in the ascending.
A nurse is teaching a patient about the large intestine in elimination. In which order will the nurse list
the structures, starting with the first portion?
a. Cecum, ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, and rectum
b. Ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, rectum, and cecum
c. Cecum, sigmoid, ascending, transverse, descending, and rectum
d. Ascending, transverse, descending, rectum, sigmoid, and cecum
ANS: A
The large intestine is divided into the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon,
sigmoid colon, and rectum. The large intestine is the primary organ of bowel elimination.
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.
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?
a. Long-term laxative use causes the bowel to become less responsive to stimuli, and constipation
may occur.
b. Laxatives can cause trauma to the intestinal lining and scarring may result, leading to decreased
peristalsis.
c. Long-term use of emollient laxatives is effective for treatment of chronic constipation and may be
useful in certain situations.
d. Laxatives cause the body to become malnourished, so when the patient begins eating again, 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
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."
c. "Are you under a lot of stress?"
