A nurse is caring for a client and is concerned that the client might have a fecal impaction. Which of the following is the most important question for the nurse to ask?
"What types of foods have you been eating?”
"Are you using stool softeners or laxatives?”
"Have you been passing gas?”
"Have you had small liquid stools?”
The Correct Answer is D
The correct answer is choice d. “Have you had small liquid stools?”
Choice A rationale:
While knowing the types of foods the client has been eating can provide insight into dietary habits that may contribute to constipation, it is not the most direct question to identify a fecal impaction.
Choice B rationale:
Asking about the use of stool softeners or laxatives is relevant to understanding the client’s bowel management, but it does not directly indicate the presence of a fecal impaction.
Choice C rationale:
Passing gas can indicate that there is some bowel movement, but it does not confirm or rule out a fecal impaction.
Choice D rationale:
Small liquid stools can be a sign of fecal impaction, as liquid stool may leak around the impacted mass. This makes it the most important question to ask when suspecting a fecal impaction.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The correct answer is choice d. Actual loss.
Choice A rationale: Complicated grief refers to an intense and prolonged period of mourning that interferes with daily life. It is not typically associated with the immediate postoperative period following a mastectomy.
Choice B rationale: Maturational loss is related to the normal life transitions and developmental changes, such as children leaving home or retirement. It does not apply to the loss experienced after a mastectomy.
Choice C rationale: Disenfranchised grief occurs when a person’s grief is not socially recognized or supported, such as the loss of a pet or an ex-spouse. While the grief after a mastectomy can be profound, it is generally acknowledged and supported by healthcare providers and society.
Choice D rationale: Actual loss refers to the tangible loss of a person, object, or body part. In this case, the client is experiencing the loss of a breast, which is a significant and visible change to their body. This type of loss can deeply affect a person’s self-image and emotional well-being.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A: "Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides."
Choice A rationale:
This statement is correct. The nurse should instruct the client to stand with their feet together and their arms at their sides for a Romberg test. This position helps to assess the client's ability to maintain balance with minimal sensory input, evaluating their proprioception and vestibular function.
Choice B rationale:
The instruction about the tuning fork is unrelated to the Romberg test. The tuning fork is commonly used to assess hearing and vibratory sensations, not balance.
Choice C rationale:
This statement is unrelated to the Romberg test. Mentioning the lateral side of the foot suggests a neurological examination related to assessing reflexes, such as the Babinski reflex.
Choice D rationale:
This instruction pertains to a different test known as the "finger-to-nose" test, which is used to assess coordination, not balance.
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