Chapter 18: Elimination
Williams: Basic Geriatric Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which nursing action would be effective when assisting an 85-year-old adult with weak
abdominal muscles to defecate?
a. Encourage the use of a bedpan before getting up in the morning.
b. Place a footstool under the feet of the patient when seated on the toilet.
c. Insert a finger in the patient’s rectum to stimulate the urge to defecate.
d. Instruct the patient to do isometric exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
ANS: B
Placement of a stool under the patient’s feet increases intra-abdominal pressure and
encourages defecation.
PTS: 1 DIF: 5 REF: p. 312 OBJ: 6
TOP: Weak Abdominal Muscles KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation NOT:
Applying
2. Which food provides a natural laxative effect?
a. Orange
b. Pineapple
c. Prunes
d. Raw apple
, ANS: C
Although all the options add fiber and bulk to the diet, only prunes provide a laxative
effect.
PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: p. 311 OBJ: 6
TOP: No constipating Foods KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation NOT:
Remembering
3. The patient has begun taking psyllium. Which patient education should be given to the
patient?
a. Eat several servings of fresh fruit and vegetables a day.
b. Avoid citrus fruit juices.
c. Reduce intake of carbonated drinks.
d. Increase his fluid intake.
ANS: D
Increased fluid intake is essential to dissolve the fiber in this drug completely;
otherwise, fecal impaction can occur.
PTS: 1 DIF: 5 REF: p. 312 OBJ: 6
TOP: Psyllium KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies NOT:
Applying
4. Which patient would need enhanced skin care precautions?
a. Patient who has one unformed stool after a bolus of tube feeding
b. Patient who has an unformed stool followed by a formed stool 3 hours later
c. Patient who reports cramping and nausea followed by an unformed stool
d. Patient who reports no abdominal discomfort but has had three unformed stools in
8 hours
Williams: Basic Geriatric Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which nursing action would be effective when assisting an 85-year-old adult with weak
abdominal muscles to defecate?
a. Encourage the use of a bedpan before getting up in the morning.
b. Place a footstool under the feet of the patient when seated on the toilet.
c. Insert a finger in the patient’s rectum to stimulate the urge to defecate.
d. Instruct the patient to do isometric exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
ANS: B
Placement of a stool under the patient’s feet increases intra-abdominal pressure and
encourages defecation.
PTS: 1 DIF: 5 REF: p. 312 OBJ: 6
TOP: Weak Abdominal Muscles KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation NOT:
Applying
2. Which food provides a natural laxative effect?
a. Orange
b. Pineapple
c. Prunes
d. Raw apple
, ANS: C
Although all the options add fiber and bulk to the diet, only prunes provide a laxative
effect.
PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: p. 311 OBJ: 6
TOP: No constipating Foods KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation NOT:
Remembering
3. The patient has begun taking psyllium. Which patient education should be given to the
patient?
a. Eat several servings of fresh fruit and vegetables a day.
b. Avoid citrus fruit juices.
c. Reduce intake of carbonated drinks.
d. Increase his fluid intake.
ANS: D
Increased fluid intake is essential to dissolve the fiber in this drug completely;
otherwise, fecal impaction can occur.
PTS: 1 DIF: 5 REF: p. 312 OBJ: 6
TOP: Psyllium KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies NOT:
Applying
4. Which patient would need enhanced skin care precautions?
a. Patient who has one unformed stool after a bolus of tube feeding
b. Patient who has an unformed stool followed by a formed stool 3 hours later
c. Patient who reports cramping and nausea followed by an unformed stool
d. Patient who reports no abdominal discomfort but has had three unformed stools in
8 hours
