Anatomy/Physiology
What role does the mouth play?
Mechanically breaks down nutrients into a usable size and form.
During emotional stress the digestive process is ___.
Accelerated with increased peristalsis.
Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
The order in which to assess the abdomen.
Inspect, Auscultate, Palpate.
A fecal impaction not relieved by the use of an enema may require the nurse to:
Perform digital dissimpaction
Mixing of food with digestive juices.
A digestive side effect of emotional stress.
Common medication to treat constipation.
Cathartics/laxatives
A patient laying in a semi-fowlers position on a bedpan is having difficulty passing stool. The nurse should:
Put the patient into a sitting position
Results in movement through the GI track.
Peristalsis
Effect of depression on the digestive system.
Decreased peristalsis and constipation.
Proper patient positioning for administering an enema.
Left-lying Sims
You suspect a fecal impaction. On assessment you would expect to find the following: (Name 3)
Abdominal pain/tenderness, loss of appetite, abdominal distention, hypoactive bowel sounds, inability to defecate, liquid stool, vomiting.
A post operative patient taking opioids for pain relief will benefit from:
Cathartic/laxative, stool softener, increased fluid intake, increased mobility
Role of the small intestines.
Digestion and absorption of vitamins and nutrients.
Factors that contribute to constipation. (Name at least 4)
Complications associated with enemas.
Pain/cramping, dehydration (hypertonic solutions)
Your patient has hypoactive bowel sounds. This may indicate:
Constipation, fecal impaction, paralytic ileus, bowel obstruction
A patient with bowel incontinence may benefit from:
Bowel/habit training
Role of the large intestine.
Absorption of water.
Factors that contribute to diarrhea (name at least 3).
Stress, illness/infection, spicy foods, food intolerances.
The involuntary passing of liquid stool around harder formed stool.
Encopresis
Your patient has a Salem sump tube. The purpose of this intervention is:
Gastric decompression
Education you would provide a patient with an ileostomy.
Monitor for skin breakdown around the stoma site, drink 8 oz of water every time they empty their pouch.