During an abdominal assessment, the nurse is unable to hear bowel sounds in a client's abdomen. How long should the nurse listen before reporting absent bowel sounds?
1 minute in the center of the abdomen.
10 minutes in each quadrant.
1 minute in each quadrant.
5 minutes in each quadrant.
None
None
The Correct Answer is D
A. One minute may not provide a sufficient duration to declare absent bowel sounds, especially if the client has a slower bowel motility.
B.
Listening for 10 minutes in each quadrant is excessive and not supported by clinical guidelines. It would unnecessarily delay care and increase patient discomfort.
C. One minute in each quadrant might not provide an adequate assessment time.
D. This is the correct answer because clinical guidelines recommend auscultating for at least 5 minutes in each quadrant before concluding that bowel sounds are absent. This ensures sufficient time to detect infrequent bowel sounds and accurately assess the situation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Heart failure can lead to fluid accumulation in the legs due to the heart's inability to effectively pump blood, causing increased pressure in the veins.
B. Excess fluid retention or consumption might cause edema, but heart failure specifically impacts the heart's pumping function.
C. Excess fluid consumption might contribute to temporary edema, but severe bilateral lower extremity edema is more likely due to a systemic issue like heart failure.
D. While a pulmonary embolism can lead to edema in the legs, it typically presents with sudden onset and might not present with bilateral edema from feet to knees.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Estimating the degree of flexion and extension in each joint primarily assesses the range of motion, not specifically muscle strength.
B. Measuring the degree of force required to overcome joint flexion or extension may assess resistance but doesn't directly evaluate muscle strength.
C. Applying an opposing force when the individual puts a joint in flexion or extension is an accurate method to assess muscle strength, as it evaluates the force the muscle can generate against resistance.
D. Observing muscles for contraction while lifting a heavy object evaluates muscle usage but doesn’t offer a standardized way to assess muscle strength.
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