Fundamentals of Nursing- Bowels
What are the normal characteristics of faeces? - correct answer-1. COLOUR: Infant-yellow,
Adult-brown
2. ODOUR: Pungent; affected by food type
3. CONSISTENCY: Soft, Formed
4. FREQUENCY: Infant (breast) 4 to 6 times daily; Infant (bottle) 1 to 3 times daily; Adult
daily or 2 to 3 times per week
5. AMOUNT: Depends of the person
6. SHAPE: Resembles diameter of rectum
7. CONSTITUENTS: undigested food, dead, bacteria, bile pigment, cells lining intestinal
mucosa, water
What nursing measures promote normal bowel elimination? - correct answer-Promoting a
bowel-training program. This is done by manipulating factors within a person's control, like
fluid intake, food, exercise, and time for defection.
What are the different types of colostomies? - correct answer-Ascending
Transverse
Descending
Sigmoid
Explain bowel incontinence - correct answer-It is the inability to control the anal sphincter
What is constipation? - correct answer-Infrequent stools and/or hard, dry, small stools that
are difficult to eliminate
What should a stoma look like? - correct answer-dark pink to red and moist
How do you perform a digital removal of an impaction? - correct answer-Patient should be in
a side lying position. Lubricate index finger generously. Slowly and gently work around the
mass breaking it up from the edges, remove the pieces. Instruct the patient to bear down if
possible to facilitate removal.
What are the symptoms of constipation? - correct answer--two or fewer stools per week
-straining at stool
-feeling of incomplete evacuation
What are the different types solutions used in enemas? - correct answer-Tap water/
hypotonic solution
Soapsuds
Normal saline
Low-volume hypertonic
Oil retention
Medication
What are the normal characteristics of faeces? - correct answer-1. COLOUR: Infant-yellow,
Adult-brown
2. ODOUR: Pungent; affected by food type
3. CONSISTENCY: Soft, Formed
4. FREQUENCY: Infant (breast) 4 to 6 times daily; Infant (bottle) 1 to 3 times daily; Adult
daily or 2 to 3 times per week
5. AMOUNT: Depends of the person
6. SHAPE: Resembles diameter of rectum
7. CONSTITUENTS: undigested food, dead, bacteria, bile pigment, cells lining intestinal
mucosa, water
What nursing measures promote normal bowel elimination? - correct answer-Promoting a
bowel-training program. This is done by manipulating factors within a person's control, like
fluid intake, food, exercise, and time for defection.
What are the different types of colostomies? - correct answer-Ascending
Transverse
Descending
Sigmoid
Explain bowel incontinence - correct answer-It is the inability to control the anal sphincter
What is constipation? - correct answer-Infrequent stools and/or hard, dry, small stools that
are difficult to eliminate
What should a stoma look like? - correct answer-dark pink to red and moist
How do you perform a digital removal of an impaction? - correct answer-Patient should be in
a side lying position. Lubricate index finger generously. Slowly and gently work around the
mass breaking it up from the edges, remove the pieces. Instruct the patient to bear down if
possible to facilitate removal.
What are the symptoms of constipation? - correct answer--two or fewer stools per week
-straining at stool
-feeling of incomplete evacuation
What are the different types solutions used in enemas? - correct answer-Tap water/
hypotonic solution
Soapsuds
Normal saline
Low-volume hypertonic
Oil retention
Medication
