Nokea
The instructor is teaching a group of students about intestinal obstruction. The instructor determines that the teaching was effective when the students identify which of the following as a cause of a functional obstruction?
- A. Volvolus
- B. Intussusception
- C. Tumor
- D. Abdominal surgery
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In functional obstruction, the intestine can become adynamic from an absence of normal nerve stimulation to intestinal muscle fibers. For example, abdominal surgery can lead to paralytic ileus. Mechanical obstructions result from a narrowing of the bowel lumen with or without a space-occupying mass. A mass may include a tumor, adhesions (fibrous bands that constrict tissue), incarcerated or strangulated hernias, volvulus (kinking of a portion of intestine), intussusception (telescoping of one part of the intestine into an adjacent part), or impacted feces or barium.
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A client realizes that regular use of laxatives has led to bowel pattern improvement. However, the nurse cautions this client against the prolonged use of laxatives for which reason?
- A. The client may develop inflammatory bowel disease.
- B. The client may develop arthritis or arthralgia.
- C. The client's natural bowel function may become sluggish.
- D. The client's appetite may be depleted.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: It is essential for the nurse to caution the client against the prolonged use of laxatives because it decreases muscle tone in the large intestine. Prolonged use of laxatives may cause the client's natural bowel function to become sluggish. Laxatives do not increase the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, or arthralgia, nor do they cause a loss in appetite.
A client tells the nurse, 'I am not having normal bowel movements.' When differentiating between what are normal and abnormal bowel habits, what indicators are the most important?
- A. The consistency of stool and comfort when passing stool
- B. That the client has a bowel movement daily
- C. That the stool is formed and soft
- D. The client is able to fully evacuate with each bowel movement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In differentiating normal from abnormal, the consistency of stools and the comfort with which a person passes them are more reliable indicators than is the frequency of bowel elimination. People differ greatly in their bowel habits and normal bowel patterns range from three bowel movements per day to three bowel movements per week. It is important for the stool to be soft to pass without pain. The client may not be able to fully evacuate with a bowel movement, it may take time.
The nurse is teaching a client with constipation to increase dietary fiber intake to 25 g/day. Which recommendation would the nurse include?
- A. Avoiding bran cereals and beans in the diet
- B. Adding fiber-rich foods to the diet gradually
- C. Limiting fluid intake to 5 to 6 glasses per day
- D. Minimizing activity levels for at least 2 months
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse instructs the client to add fiber-rich foods to the diet gradually to avoid bloating, gas, and diarrhea. It is essential for a client to include bran cereals and beans in the diet because they ease defecation. The nurse also instructs the client to increase fluids to 6 to 8 glasses per day to prevent hard, dry stools. The client should also develop a regular exercise program to increase peristalsis and promote bowel elimination.
A nurse is preparing a presentation for a local community group of older adults about colon cancer. What would the nurse include as the primary characteristic associated with this disorder?
- A. Abdominal distention
- B. Frank blood in the stool
- C. A change in bowel habits
- D. Abdominal pain
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Although abdominal distention and blood in the stool (frank or occult) may be present, the chief characteristic of cancer of the colon is a change in bowel habits, such as alternating constipation and diarrhea. Abdominal pain is a late sign.
A client is recently diagnosed with Crohn disease and is beginning treatment. What first-line treatment does the nurse expect that the client will be placed on to decrease the inflammatory response?
- A. Ciprofloxacin
- B. Methotrexate
- C. Azathioprine
- D. Sulfasalazine
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Considered first-line treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, 5-ASA drugs contain salicylate, which is bonded to a carrying agent that allows the drug to be absorbed in the intestine. These drugs work by decreasing the inflammatory response. Methotrexate or azathioprine are used when failure to maintain remission necessitates the use of an immune-modulating agent. Ciprofloxacin is used as an effective adjunct to treat the disease.