A nurse is caring for a patient who reports constipation.
The doctor has ordered an enema.
Identify the sequence of steps the nurse should follow to administer the enema.
Assisting the patient into the Sims’ position
Confirm the patient’s identity by checking their wristband.
Provide privacy for the patient by closing the curtains.
Insert the tip of the enema tubing into the patient’s rectum.
The Correct Answer is B,C,A,D
B. Confirm the patient’s identity by checking their wristband.
Explanation: Always begin by confirming the patient’s identity to ensure the correct treatment is given to the right patient. This step is critical in maintaining patient safety and is a standard part of care.
C. Provide privacy for the patient by closing the curtains.
Explanation: After confirming identity, ensuring privacy is important for the patient’s comfort and dignity. This is especially relevant for procedures like enemas, which may cause embarrassment or discomfort.
A. Assisting the patient into the Sims’ position.
Explanation: The Sims' position, where the patient lies on their left side with the right knee flexed, is the preferred position for enema administration. This position allows for easy insertion of the enema tube and ensures that gravity helps the solution flow into the rectum and colon.
D. Insert the tip of the enema tubing into the patient’s rectum.
Explanation: Once the patient is in the correct position, the nurse carefully inserts the enema tubing into the rectum, following proper technique to ensure patient safety and comfort.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Iron supplements Iron supplements are commonly used to treat or prevent iron deficiency anemia. While beneficial in relieving iron deficiency, iron pills can cause side effects like constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dark stools, stomach cramps, and a metallic taste. However, constipation is not the primary side effect of iron supplements.
Choice B rationale:
Magnesium-containing antacids Magnesium-containing antacids are used to relieve the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn, or indigestion. By neutralizing stomach acid, antacids relieve symptoms such as burning behind the breast bone or throat area caused by acid reflux, a bitter taste in the mouth, a persistent dry cough, pain when lying down, or regurgitation. While these antacids can cause diarrhea, they do not typically lead to constipation.
Choice C rationale:
Anticholinergics/Antispasmodics Anticholinergics and antispasmodics are used to relieve cramps or spasms of the stomach, intestines, and bladder. Some are used together with antacids or other medicines in the treatment of peptic ulcers. Others are used to prevent nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness. While these medications can cause a variety of side effects, constipation is not a primary side effect.
Choice D rationale:
Opioid narcotics Opioids, also known as narcotics, are a class of drugs healthcare providers prescribe to manage moderate to severe pain, as well as chronic coughing and diarrhea. Common side effects of narcotics include constipation, decreased sweating, dizziness, dry mouth, nose, throat, or skin. Therefore, opioid narcotics are the medication most likely to lead to constipation among the options provided.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Administering insulin to a client who is hyperventilating due to respiratory alkalosis would not be the appropriate action. Insulin is used to lower blood glucose levels in clients with hyperglycemia, such as those with diabetes mellitus. It does not directly address the issues of hyperventilation or respiratory alkalosis.
Choice B rationale:
Having the client breathe into a paper bag is the correct action in this case. When a person hyperventilates, they exhale more carbon dioxide (CO2) than they produce. This can lead to a state of respiratory alkalosis, where the blood becomes too alkaline due to the low levels of CO2. By breathing into a paper bag, the client re-inhales some of the exhaled CO2, helping to restore the balance of gases in the blood and alleviate the symptoms of respiratory alkalosis.

Choice C rationale:
Administering sodium bicarbonate to a client who is hyperventilating and has respiratory alkalosis would not be the appropriate action. Sodium bicarbonate is an alkalinizing agent used to treat conditions where there is too much acid in the body, such as metabolic acidosis. In this case, the client’s body is too alkaline due to the respiratory alkalosis, so administering an alkalinizing agent would exacerbate the condition.
Choice D rationale:
Having the client place their head between their knees would not be the appropriate action for a client who is hyperventilating due to respiratory alkalosis. This position is often used to help alleviate symptoms of dizziness or fainting, but it does not address the underlying issue of the imbalance of gases in the blood due to hyperventilation.
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