HESI RN Exit Exam 2023 Capstone Related

Review HESI RN Exit Exam 2023 Capstone related questions and content

A client is admitted with a large bowel obstruction. What finding should the nurse report immediately?

  • A. Absence of bowel sounds in all four quadrants.
  • B. Abdominal distention with a firm, rigid abdomen.
  • C. Frequent, small, liquid stools.
  • D. Nausea and vomiting that worsens after meals.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Abdominal distention with a firm, rigid abdomen is a concerning sign that may indicate perforation, which requires immediate intervention. The rigidity suggests a complication of the large bowel obstruction. Absence of bowel sounds in all four quadrants, option A, is a common finding in a bowel obstruction but not as alarming as a rigid abdomen. Frequent, small, liquid stools, option C, are not typical findings in a large bowel obstruction; instead, constipation is more common. Nausea and vomiting that worsens after meals, option D, are also common symptoms of a bowel obstruction but do not indicate an immediate life-threatening complication like a perforation.