A patient reports abdominal pain.
An abdominal x-ray indicates a large amount of fecal material throughout the colon, but no evidence of gastrointestinal obstruction is observed.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Assist the patient to a left side-lying position with the right knee flexed.

Prepare the patient for a chest x-ray.

Administer a cleansing enema.

Perform a manual digital examination of the patient’s rectum.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale

Assisting the patient to a left side-lying position with the right knee flexed is often used for rectal examinations or administering enemas, but it does not directly address the issue of a large amount of fecal material in the colon.

Choice B rationale

Preparing the patient for a chest x-ray would not be beneficial in this situation. A chest x-ray would not provide further information about the fecal material in the colon.

Choice C rationale

Administering a cleansing enema can help to remove the fecal material from the colon. This is a common treatment for fecal impaction.

Choice D rationale

Performing a manual digital examination of the patient’s rectum can help to assess the amount of fecal material present, but it would not alleviate the patient’s abdominal pain or remove the fecal material.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The quality of pain is a subjective description of what the pain feels like to the patient. The statement “I feel a dull ache in my stomach” provides a description of the quality of the patient’s pain.

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"A","dropdown-group-2":"B"}

Explanation

The client is at risk for Bleeding as evidenced by the Decrease in Platelet count from 350,000/mm² to 100,000/mm².

Rationale for Bleeding: Platelets are a crucial component of the blood that helps in clotting and preventing excessive bleeding. A decrease in platelet count from 350,000/mm² to 100,000/mm² is significant and puts the client at risk for bleeding. This is because when platelet levels fall below the normal range (150,000 to 400,000/mm²), the body’s ability to form clots and stop bleeding is compromised.

Rationale for Anemia: The client’s Hemoglobin level has decreased from 15 g/dL to 12 g/dL, which is at the lower end of the normal range (12 to 16 g/dL). However, it is still within the normal range, so the client is not currently at risk for anemia.

Rationale for Infections: The client’s White Blood Cell (WBC) count has decreased from 8,000/mm² to 6,000/mm², but it is still within the normal range (5,000 to 10,000/mm²). Therefore, the client is not currently at risk for infections.

Rationale for Cardiac arrhythmias: The client’s Potassium level has slightly decreased from 3.7 mEq/L to 3.6 mEq/L, but it is still within the normal range (3.5 to 5 mEq/L). Therefore, the client is not currently at risk for cardiac arrhythmias.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A patient reports abdominal pain.An abdominal x-ray indicates a large amount of fecal material throughout the colon, but no evidence of gastrointestinal obstruction is observed.Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is attending to a patient who is experiencing discomfort. Which of the following patient statements should the nurse document in the initial pain assessment to describe the quality of the patient’s pain?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a female client. The following diagnostic results have been recorded over two weeks: Exhibits Complete the following sentence by using the lists of options. The client is at risk for dropdown as evidenced by the dropdown.

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"A","dropdown-group-2":"B"}

Explanation

A nurse is performing a skin assessment for a client who expresses concern about skin cancer.Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a potential indication of a skin malignancy?

A home health nurse is conducting an admission assessment of an elderly patient who has their caregiver present. Which observation should the nurse identify as a potential sign of elder abuse?

A nurse responds to a call light and finds a patient lying on the bathroom floor. What should the nurse do first?

A nurse is instructing a client whose left leg is in a cast on how to use crutches. Which statement from the client indicates they have understood the instructions?

A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for 5 units of regular insulin and 10 units of NPH insulin to be mixed together and administered subcutaneously. Determine the correct order of steps for this procedure.

A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving fluids through a peripheral IV catheter. Which of the following observations at the IV site should the nurse identify as signs of infiltration?

A nurse in a medical-surgical unit is caring for six clients. The nurse needs to assess the clients based on their conditions. Exhibits Based on the Nurses’ Notes, which client should the nurse assess first? Please select the correct client number from the choices below:

A patient reports abdominal pain.
An abdominal x-ray indicates a large amount of fecal material throughout the colon, but no evidence of gastrointestinal obstruction is observed.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?