GI Physical Assessment
The correct order of abdominal assessment
What is inspection → auscultation → percussion → palpation?
Yellowing of skin and eyes is called this
What is jaundice?
A patient reports constipation. What is the priority question?
What is “How often do you normally have a bowel movement?” (baseline)
Process of elimination of waste
What is defecation?
Blood in the urine. May be due to trauma, kidney stones, infection, or menstruation.
What is hematuria?
Normal bowel sounds are described as this.
What are normoactive?
Loud, high-pitched bowel sounds may indicate this.
What is hyperactive bowel sounds?
You hear no bowel sounds. What is your first action?
What is listen for a full 5 minutes before documenting?
Semisolid mass of fiber, undigested food, inorganic material
What is feces?
Surgically created opening for elimination of urine.
What is a urinary diversion/ urostomy?
This quadrant contains the appendix.
What is the right lower quadrant (RLQ)
A swollen abdomen due to fluid accumulation is called this.
What is ascites?
A patient has sudden severe abdominal pain and a rigid abdomen. What should you do?
What is notify the provider immediately?
-Peritonitis, bowel perforation, appendicitis rupture, or internal bleeding
Could be life threatening
Cessation of bowel peristalsis; will need NG tube to decompress the stomach
What is paralytic ileus?
Performed to relieve retention, obtain sterile specimen, or monitor output
What is urinary catheterization?
-Straight catheter
-Indwelling catheter/foley
-Suprapubic catheter
You should listen for bowel sounds for at least this long before calling them absent.
What is 5 minutes
Severe tenderness with rebound pain may indicate this emergency condition.
What is peritonitis?
A patient reports nausea and vomiting. What is a priority assessment?
What is hydration status?
Brings portion of ileum through surgical opening in abdomen, bypassing large intestine entirely.
What is an ileostomy?
Exercise performed to strengthen pelvic muscles
What are Kegel exercises?
his technique uses gentle pressure to assess tenderness
What is light palpation?
Absence of bowel sounds may indicate this condition
What is ileus?
patient has distention, no bowel sounds, and vomiting. What is the likely concern?
What is bowel obstruction?
Brings a portion of the colon through surgical opening of the abdomen. Location will determine the consistency of feces.
What is a colostomy?
Scheduled voiding- offer toilet/bedpan q 2 hours
What is bladder training?