A nurse teaches a preoperative client about the nasogastric tube that will be inserted in preparation for surgery. The nurse determines that the client understands when the tube will be removed in the postoperative period when the client states
- A. When my gastrointestinal system is healed enough.
- B. When I can tolerate food without vomiting.
- C. When my bowels begin to function again, and I begin to pass gas.
- D. When the doctor says so.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The rationale is as follows: The return of bowel function, evidenced by passing gas, is an important indicator of gastrointestinal motility and recovery postoperatively. It indicates that the gastrointestinal system is beginning to function normally, which is a key factor in determining when the nasogastric tube can be safely removed. Choices A and B are too general and do not provide a specific physiological indicator for tube removal. Choice D defers the decision solely to the doctor without considering the client's physiological progress. Therefore, the most appropriate and accurate indicator for tube removal is the return of bowel function and passage of gas, as stated in option C.
You may also like to solve these questions
Which of the following nursing measures would be inappropriate when caring for a client with a Cantor tube?
- A. Injecting 10 mL of air into the tube to facilitate drainage.
- B. Applying a water-soluble lubricant to the client's nares.
- C. Coiling extra tubing on the client's bed.
- D. Irrigating the tube with 50 mL of normal saline solution.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because irrigating the Cantor tube with normal saline solution is inappropriate. Cantor tubes are typically used for gastric decompression or feeding, and irrigating with normal saline can disrupt the balance of electrolytes in the stomach. Choice A is correct as injecting air helps facilitate drainage. Choice B is correct as lubricant aids in tube insertion. Choice C is incorrect as coiling tubing can cause kinks and hinder drainage.
The nurse is caring for a client following a Billroth II procedure. On review of the postoperative orders, which of the following if prescribed, should the nurse question and verify?
- A. Irrigating the nasogastric tube
- B. Coughing and deep breathing exercises
- C. Leg exercises
- D. Early ambulation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Irrigating the nasogastric tube. After a Billroth II procedure, the client's stomach has been partially removed, making them prone to dumping syndrome. Irrigating the nasogastric tube can disrupt the natural digestive process and may exacerbate dumping syndrome. Instead, the focus should be on promoting slow, gradual feeding to prevent complications.
Summary:
B: Coughing and deep breathing exercises - Important for preventing respiratory complications postoperatively.
C: Leg exercises - Essential for preventing blood clots and promoting circulation.
D: Early ambulation - Encourages mobility and prevents complications such as pneumonia and blood clots.
A home care nurse is visiting a client with a diagnosis of pernicious anemia that developed as a result of gastric surgery. The nurse instructs the client that because the stomach lining produces a decreased amount of intrinsic factor in this disorder, the client will need
- A. Vitamin B12 injections.
- B. Vitamin B6 injections.
- C. An antibiotic.
- D. An antacid.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Vitamin B12 injections. Pernicious anemia results from a lack of intrinsic factor, which is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the intestines. Therefore, the client with this disorder will need vitamin B12 injections to bypass the need for intrinsic factor.
Choice B (Vitamin B6 injections) is incorrect because pernicious anemia specifically involves a deficiency in vitamin B12, not B6. Choice C (An antibiotic) is incorrect as antibiotics are not indicated for pernicious anemia. Choice D (An antacid) is also incorrect as it does not address the underlying issue of vitamin B12 deficiency caused by the lack of intrinsic factor.
A nurse is reviewing the orders of a client admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Select the interventions that the nurse would expect to be prescribed for the client.
- A. Small, frequent high-calorie feedings.
- B. Meperidine (Demerol) as prescribed for pain.
- C. Place the client in a side-lying position with the head elevated 45-degrees.
- D. Administer antacids and anticholinergics to suppress gastrointestinal secretions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Meperidine (Demerol) as prescribed for pain. In acute pancreatitis, pain management is crucial, and Meperidine is commonly used due to its minimal effect on the sphincter of Oddi.
Incorrect options:
A: Small, frequent high-calorie feedings can exacerbate pancreatitis by stimulating pancreatic enzyme secretion.
C: Placing the client in a side-lying position with the head elevated is not a specific intervention for pancreatitis.
D: Administering antacids and anticholinergics is not a standard treatment for pancreatitis and may not address the underlying cause of the condition.
A nurse is preparing to remove a nasogastric tube from a client. The nurse would instruct the client to do which of the following just before the nurse removes the tube?
- A. To perform Valsalva's maneuver
- B. To take hold and hold a deep breath
- C. To exhale
- D. To inhale and exhale quickly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: To take hold and hold a deep breath. This is because holding a deep breath helps prevent the aspiration of gastric contents when removing the nasogastric tube. By taking a deep breath and holding it, the client creates positive pressure in the lungs, which can help prevent the contents from entering the airway.
Rationale for other choices:
A: Performing Valsalva's maneuver (straining while holding breath) can increase intra-abdominal pressure and potentially push gastric contents upward, increasing the risk of aspiration.
C: Exhaling does not provide the same protection against aspiration as holding a deep breath.
D: Inhaling and exhaling quickly does not create the same protective mechanism as holding a deep breath.