Bowel Elimination Exam Questions With
Answers
A client with irritable bowel syndrome has instructions to take psyllium for constipation. Which
statement is important for the nurse to include in the teaching plan?
"Each dose should be taken with a full glass of water or juice"
The nurse obtains daily stool specimens for a client with chronic bowel inflammation. The nurse
recognizes that the stool examinations were prescribed for which reason?
To determine the presence of occult blood
Which measures would the nurse take to prevent skin breakdown for a confused client experiencing
bowel incontinence?
Check the clients buttocks at least every two hours and clean after incontinence.
The nurse is caring for an older adult who has constipation. Which independent nursing intervention
helps reestablish a normal bowel pattern?
Offer a cup of prune juice
A client is scheduled for discharge after surgery. The medical record indicates that the client has not
had a bowel movement since before his surgery, which was 4 days ago. Which prescribed medication
will the nurse administer to ensure bowel movement before discharge?
Bisacodyl suppository. Usually takes effect in 15-60 minutes. Lactulose takes about 24 hours, docusate
sodium takes 1-3 days, and psyllium takes 12-24 hours.
A client who sustained a cerebrovascular accident (CVA, also known as "brain attack") becomes
incontinent of feces. Which nursing intervention is most important for supporting the success of the
client's bowel training program.
Adhere to a definite time for attempted evacuations.
Which would the nurse include in dietary teaching for a client with a colostomy?
The diet should be adjusted to result in manageable stools
The nurse discusses the regaining of bowel control with a client who recently had surgery for a
colostomy in the descending colon. Which is important to emphasize in the teaching?
Irrigation routine
During the first 24 hours after a client has had a permanent colostomy created, the nurse observes no
drainage from the colostomy. Which circumstance explains this finding?
Absence of intestinal peristalsis
The nurse is caring for a client who is having diarrhea. Which client data would the nurse closely
monitor to prevent an adverse outcome?
Fluid and electrolyte balance
flatulence
gas in the stomach or intestines
, Peristalsis
Involuntary waves of muscle contraction that keep food moving along in one direction through the
digestive system.
defecation
elimination of feces
gastrocolic reflex
increased peristalsis of the colon after food has entered the stomach
constipation
Hard, slow stools that are difficult to eliminate; often a result of too little fiber in the diet
Impaction
results from unrelieved constipation; a collection of hardened feces wedged in the rectum that a
person cannot expel
diarrhea
frequent passage of loose, watery stools. At least 3 loose stools/day. Bowel urgency, abdominal
cramping, weakness, malaise, fatigue
bowel incontinence
the inability to control the excretion of feces
hemmorrhoids
dilated, engorged veins in the lining of the rectum
factors affecting bowel elimination
Development, diet, fluid intake, exercise, defecation habits (need for privacy, schedule), position
during defecation (immobilized clients struggle), pregnancy (fetus pressure on rectum), medication
(laxatives/side effect of antibiotics), anesthesia and surgery (slows down peristalsis for 24-48 hrs),
pain
Assessing bowel elimination
Normal bowel pattern, description of usual feces, recent changes, diet history, past problems,
presence of ostomy. Assess the abdomen, rectum, and anus. Inspect the feces.
Enemas
cleansing (tap water, normal saline, hypertonic solutions, soapsuds), oil retention, carminative and
kayexalate
Decreasing Flatulence
Avoid gas producing foods, exercise, movement in bed, ambulation, probiotics
Answers
A client with irritable bowel syndrome has instructions to take psyllium for constipation. Which
statement is important for the nurse to include in the teaching plan?
"Each dose should be taken with a full glass of water or juice"
The nurse obtains daily stool specimens for a client with chronic bowel inflammation. The nurse
recognizes that the stool examinations were prescribed for which reason?
To determine the presence of occult blood
Which measures would the nurse take to prevent skin breakdown for a confused client experiencing
bowel incontinence?
Check the clients buttocks at least every two hours and clean after incontinence.
The nurse is caring for an older adult who has constipation. Which independent nursing intervention
helps reestablish a normal bowel pattern?
Offer a cup of prune juice
A client is scheduled for discharge after surgery. The medical record indicates that the client has not
had a bowel movement since before his surgery, which was 4 days ago. Which prescribed medication
will the nurse administer to ensure bowel movement before discharge?
Bisacodyl suppository. Usually takes effect in 15-60 minutes. Lactulose takes about 24 hours, docusate
sodium takes 1-3 days, and psyllium takes 12-24 hours.
A client who sustained a cerebrovascular accident (CVA, also known as "brain attack") becomes
incontinent of feces. Which nursing intervention is most important for supporting the success of the
client's bowel training program.
Adhere to a definite time for attempted evacuations.
Which would the nurse include in dietary teaching for a client with a colostomy?
The diet should be adjusted to result in manageable stools
The nurse discusses the regaining of bowel control with a client who recently had surgery for a
colostomy in the descending colon. Which is important to emphasize in the teaching?
Irrigation routine
During the first 24 hours after a client has had a permanent colostomy created, the nurse observes no
drainage from the colostomy. Which circumstance explains this finding?
Absence of intestinal peristalsis
The nurse is caring for a client who is having diarrhea. Which client data would the nurse closely
monitor to prevent an adverse outcome?
Fluid and electrolyte balance
flatulence
gas in the stomach or intestines
, Peristalsis
Involuntary waves of muscle contraction that keep food moving along in one direction through the
digestive system.
defecation
elimination of feces
gastrocolic reflex
increased peristalsis of the colon after food has entered the stomach
constipation
Hard, slow stools that are difficult to eliminate; often a result of too little fiber in the diet
Impaction
results from unrelieved constipation; a collection of hardened feces wedged in the rectum that a
person cannot expel
diarrhea
frequent passage of loose, watery stools. At least 3 loose stools/day. Bowel urgency, abdominal
cramping, weakness, malaise, fatigue
bowel incontinence
the inability to control the excretion of feces
hemmorrhoids
dilated, engorged veins in the lining of the rectum
factors affecting bowel elimination
Development, diet, fluid intake, exercise, defecation habits (need for privacy, schedule), position
during defecation (immobilized clients struggle), pregnancy (fetus pressure on rectum), medication
(laxatives/side effect of antibiotics), anesthesia and surgery (slows down peristalsis for 24-48 hrs),
pain
Assessing bowel elimination
Normal bowel pattern, description of usual feces, recent changes, diet history, past problems,
presence of ostomy. Assess the abdomen, rectum, and anus. Inspect the feces.
Enemas
cleansing (tap water, normal saline, hypertonic solutions, soapsuds), oil retention, carminative and
kayexalate
Decreasing Flatulence
Avoid gas producing foods, exercise, movement in bed, ambulation, probiotics
