Sample Questions and Answers
A nurse is caring for a patient who has been prescribed a stool softener. Which of the following is the most important for the nurse to monitor?
A) Respiratory rate
B) Blood pressure
C) Bowel movements
D) Serum glucose level
Answer: C) Bowel movements
A patient with constipation is advised to increase fiber intake. Which of the following foods is the best choice for increasing fiber?
A) White bread
B) Oatmeal
C) Apple with skin
D) Potato without skin
Answer: C) Apple with skin
The nurse is assessing a patient’s abdominal assessment. The nurse hears high-pitched bowel sounds every 5 seconds. What should the nurse do next?
A) Assess for signs of peritonitis
B) Ask the patient if they have been vomiting
C) Document the findings as normal
D) Auscultate the bowel sounds in a different quadrant
Answer: B) Ask the patient if they have been vomiting
The nurse is educating a patient about the use of a laxative. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A) “I should avoid using laxatives regularly.”
B) “I should drink plenty of fluids while taking a laxative.”
C) “Laxatives can be used as a first-line treatment for constipation.”
D) “I should use laxatives only when necessary.”
Answer: C) “Laxatives can be used as a first-line treatment for constipation.”
A patient is receiving a colostomy. Which of the following is the most important for the nurse to include in patient education?
A) Avoid high-fiber foods for the first few weeks
B) The stoma should be pinkish and moist
C) Clean the stoma with soap and water only
D) Empty the ostomy bag every 4 hours
Answer: B) The stoma should be pinkish and moist
The nurse is caring for a patient with diarrhea. Which of the following interventions should be implemented first?
A) Administer an antidiarrheal medication
B) Offer the patient fluids to prevent dehydration
C) Keep the patient on bed rest
D) Increase the patient’s dietary fiber intake
Answer: B) Offer the patient fluids to prevent dehydration
A patient is admitted with acute abdominal pain. The nurse is assessing the patient’s bowel sounds. What would be an abnormal finding?
A) Hypoactive bowel sounds
B) Hyperactive bowel sounds
C) Absent bowel sounds
D) Normal bowel sounds every 5 to 10 seconds
Answer: C) Absent bowel sounds
A patient with a new ileostomy is learning how to manage the ostomy. What is the most important instruction for the nurse to give the patient?
A) Change the appliance every 12 hours
B) Avoid high-fiber foods
C) Keep the stoma covered with a bandage
D) Drink only clear liquids
Answer: B) Avoid high-fiber foods
A patient is experiencing impaction. Which of the following symptoms would the nurse expect to find?
A) Diarrhea
B) Abdominal cramping and bloating
C) Increased appetite
D) Dehydration
Answer: B) Abdominal cramping and bloating
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic constipation. Which of the following interventions would be most appropriate?
A) Increase fluid intake
B) Decrease fiber intake
C) Recommend a high-sugar diet
D) Limit physical activity
Answer: A) Increase fluid intake
A patient is being discharged after surgery and is complaining of difficulty passing stool. Which of the following medications is most likely to cause this problem?
A) Antibiotics
B) Laxatives
C) Opioid analgesics
D) Antihistamines
Answer: C) Opioid analgesics
The nurse is teaching a patient with a history of constipation. Which of the following should be included in the teaching?
A) Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily
B) Increase intake of dairy products
C) Limit physical activity
D) Avoid using the toilet after meals
Answer: A) Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily
A patient with an ileostomy is at risk for which of the following complications?
A) Dehydration
B) Hemorrhoids
C) Rectal bleeding
D) Fecal impaction
Answer: A) Dehydration
The nurse is caring for a patient who is experiencing a bowel obstruction. Which of the following interventions should be prioritized?
A) Administer laxatives as prescribed
B) Prepare the patient for surgery
C) Monitor vital signs frequently
D) Encourage the patient to drink fluids
Answer: C) Monitor vital signs frequently
A nurse is caring for a patient with a stoma. The patient asks how to care for it. Which of the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A) Use soap and water to clean the stoma
B) Apply a skin barrier to the surrounding skin
C) Change the ostomy bag every week
D) Keep the stoma dry at all times
Answer: B) Apply a skin barrier to the surrounding skin
A patient has a history of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Which of the following foods should the nurse recommend the patient avoid?
A) Whole grain bread
B) Dairy products
C) Leafy greens
D) Fresh fruits
Answer: B) Dairy products
The nurse is preparing to administer an enema. Which position is most appropriate for the patient?
A) Supine
B) Lying on the left side
C) Sitting upright
D) Lying on the right side
Answer: B) Lying on the left side
A patient presents with severe diarrhea. Which of the following is the priority for the nurse to assess?
A) Electrolyte imbalance
B) Pain level
C) Bowel sounds
D) Skin turgor
Answer: A) Electrolyte imbalance
A nurse is caring for a patient who has undergone abdominal surgery. The patient reports no bowel movements for 48 hours. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse?
A) Increase fluid intake
B) Administer an enema
C) Assess for signs of bowel obstruction
D) Provide a laxative
Answer: C) Assess for signs of bowel obstruction
A patient is scheduled for a colonoscopy. Which of the following should be included in pre-procedure teaching?
A) The patient should eat a normal diet the day before the procedure
B) The patient will need to undergo bowel preparation to clear the intestines
C) The patient should drink only clear liquids for 3 days before the procedure
D) The procedure is done under general anesthesia
Answer: B) The patient will need to undergo bowel preparation to clear the intestines
A nurse is assessing a patient who is experiencing a sudden increase in abdominal girth and discomfort. The nurse should first assess for which of the following?
A) Ascites
B) Acute pancreatitis
C) Abdominal hernia
D) Bowel perforation
Answer: A) Ascites
A patient with a recent colostomy asks how to prevent leakage. What is the nurse’s best response?
A) “You can wear a tight-fitting bandage to prevent leakage.”
B) “You need to change the appliance every 24 hours.”
C) “Be sure to empty the pouch when it is one-third full.”
D) “You should avoid drinking fluids after 6 pm.”
Answer: C) “Be sure to empty the pouch when it is one-third full.”
Which of the following is a common cause of constipation in older adults?
A) High-fiber diet
B) Lack of physical activity
C) Excessive fluid intake
D) Increased potassium intake
Answer: B) Lack of physical activity
A nurse is caring for a patient with diarrhea. Which of the following interventions is the most appropriate to reduce the risk of dehydration?
A) Administer oral rehydration solutions
B) Restrict fluids until diarrhea subsides
C) Increase intake of caffeinated beverages
D) Administer a laxative
Answer: A) Administer oral rehydration solutions
The nurse is caring for a patient with an ileostomy. Which of the following should be a priority in the patient’s care?
A) Avoiding high-protein foods
B) Monitoring for signs of dehydration
C) Using only sterile water to clean the stoma
D) Reducing the patient’s fluid intake
Answer: B) Monitoring for signs of dehydration
A patient with diarrhea has been prescribed loperamide (Imodium). The nurse knows that the drug works by which mechanism?
A) Stimulating peristalsis
B) Decreasing gut motility
C) Increasing water absorption
D) Decreasing bacterial growth in the intestines
Answer: B) Decreasing gut motility
A patient with chronic constipation is prescribed psyllium (Metamucil). What should the nurse instruct the patient to do while taking this medication?
A) Take it with a full glass of water
B) Avoid drinking fluids with the medication
C) Take it on an empty stomach
D) Decrease fiber intake
Answer: A) Take it with a full glass of water
A nurse is assessing a patient who has had a recent bowel surgery. Which of the following signs and symptoms is most concerning for the nurse?
A) Complaints of mild discomfort
B) Absence of bowel sounds for 48 hours
C) Passing of gas 12 hours after surgery
D) Passing stool within 24 hours after surgery
Answer: B) Absence of bowel sounds for 48 hours
A patient with diarrhea is at risk for which of the following complications?
A) Fluid overload
B) Hyperglycemia
C) Electrolyte imbalance
D) Hypovolemic shock
Answer: C) Electrolyte imbalance
A nurse is assessing a patient with a colostomy. Which of the following is a normal finding?
A) A red, swollen stoma
B) Greenish-black stool in the pouch
C) A pale, dry stoma
D) Stoma protruding more than 2 cm above the skin
Answer: B) Greenish-black stool in the pouch
A patient with a history of chronic constipation is advised to take a stool softener. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A) “This will help me have softer stools and less straining.”
B) “I should use the stool softener daily until my bowel habits return to normal.”
C) “I need to drink plenty of fluids while taking the stool softener.”
D) “I can stop using the stool softener once I feel better.”
Answer: B) “I should use the stool softener daily until my bowel habits return to normal.”
A nurse is preparing a patient for a barium enema. Which of the following should the nurse instruct the patient to do before the procedure?
A) Avoid eating any solid food for 48 hours
B) Drink only clear liquids for 24 hours prior to the procedure
C) Take a laxative the evening before the procedure
D) Avoid drinking liquids for 24 hours before the procedure
Answer: C) Take a laxative the evening before the procedure
A patient is diagnosed with fecal incontinence. The nurse should include which of the following in the plan of care?
A) Administer stool softeners regularly
B) Encourage the use of incontinence briefs at all times
C) Promote scheduled toileting and bowel training
D) Restrict fluid intake to reduce stool volume
Answer: C) Promote scheduled toileting and bowel training
A nurse is caring for a patient with a history of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend to help manage IBS symptoms?
A) Avoid high-fat foods
B) Increase dietary fat intake
C) Eat small meals frequently throughout the day
D) Restrict all fiber intake
Answer: A) Avoid high-fat foods
A patient is recovering from abdominal surgery and reports having no bowel movements for 72 hours. The nurse should first assess for which of the following?
A) Bowel obstruction
B) Infections at the surgical site
C) Gallbladder issues
D) Peptic ulcers
Answer: A) Bowel obstruction
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.