A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who has pneumonia.

Exhibits

The nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with the client and their caregiver. Which of the following information should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

A. Hypoactivity: Hypoactive bowel sounds refer to reduced or diminished intestinal activity, often indicating slowed motility. These sounds are usually soft, infrequent, or absent, which contrasts with the loud, growling sounds described in this scenario.

B. Paralytic ileus: Paralytic ileus is a condition characterized by the absence of intestinal motility, resulting in no bowel sounds on auscultation. The presence of loud growling sounds indicates active bowel movements, making paralytic ileus an unlikely term.

C. Borborygmi: Borborygmi describes the loud, rumbling, growling, or gurgling sounds caused by the movement of gas and fluids through the intestines. These sounds are normal but can be louder than usual in cases of increased gastrointestinal activity, such as hunger or diarrhea.

D. Distention: Distention refers to the visible swelling or enlargement of the abdomen, often due to gas, fluid, or mass accumulation. It is a physical finding observed visually or by palpation, not a term for a type of bowel sound heard during auscultation.

A. Brittle hair: Malnutrition often leads to protein and micronutrient deficiencies, which impair hair growth and texture, resulting in dry, brittle, or thinning hair. This is a common visible sign in clients with poor nutritional status.

B. Yellow conjunctivae: Yellowing of the conjunctivae typically indicates jaundice due to liver dysfunction or hemolysis, not malnutrition from inflammatory bowel disease. It reflects bilirubin accumulation rather than nutrient deficiency.

C. Bradycardia: While bradycardia may occur in severe starvation or electrolyte imbalance, it is not a consistent or early indicator of malnutrition from inflammatory bowel disease. It requires further context to be clinically relevant.

D. Clubbing of the fingernails: Clubbing is associated with chronic hypoxia or pulmonary/cardiac conditions. It is not commonly linked to malnutrition or inflammatory bowel disease unless there are severe complications such as chronic anemia or hypoxia.