The home care nurse is assessing a client's abdomen 4 weeks after a colostomy in the descending colon was created. What are the expected findings of the a healthy client's abdominal assessment?
(SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)
stoma is shiny and moist
stoma is deep pink
peristomal skin is not reddened or tender
abdomen flat
bowel sounds present 8 to 10 clicks/gurgles per minute
Correct Answer : A,B,C,D,E
A. A healthy stoma should appear moist and shiny, indicating adequate blood supply and hydration of the tissue. Dryness or dullness of the stoma may indicate poor blood flow or dehydration and should be further evaluated.
B. A healthy stoma typically appears deep pink to red in color, indicating good tissue perfusion. Pallor or cyanosis of the stoma may indicate inadequate blood supply and should be assessed promptly.
C. The skin around the stoma, known as the peristomal skin, should be intact, without signs of irritation, redness, or tenderness. Irritation or breakdown of the peristomal skin can occur due to leakage of stool or irritation from ostomy appliances and should be addressed promptly to prevent skin complications.
D. A flat abdomen suggests normal abdominal contour without distention or bulging. Distention or bulging of the abdomen may indicate underlying issues such as bowel obstruction, gas accumulation, or fluid retention and should be assessed further.
E. Bowel sounds are indicative of gastrointestinal motility and function. Normal bowel sounds are present and audible in healthy individuals and are characterized by 8 to 10 clicks or gurgles per minute. Absence or abnormal bowel sounds may indicate bowel obstruction, ileus, or other gastrointestinal disorders and should be assessed further.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
C. This is a critical initial step before administering enteral feedings. Aspirating stomach contents helps confirm the placement of the nasogastric tube in the stomach rather than the respiratory tract. Checking the pH of the aspirate can further confirm gastric placement, as gastric fluid typically has an acidic pH (usually less than 5). This step ensures that the feeding will be delivered to the correct location, minimizing the risk of aspiration.
A. While it's important for the formula to be at an appropriate temperature for administration to prevent discomfort or complications such as cramping, this is not typically the first action to take. It can be done concurrently with other preparatory steps.
B. Proper labeling of the feeding container is essential for patient safety and adherence to institutional policies. However, this is not the first action to be completed. It's usually done after preparing the feeding and confirming the tube placement.
D. Assessing residual volume involves checking for any residual contents in the stomach from previous feedings. This step helps determine how much of the previous feeding remains in the stomach and whether it's safe to administer the next feeding. However, it typically follows confirming tube placement, as it's essential to know the tube is in the correct position before assessing residual volume.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
B. This statement aligns with the concept of allostatic load, which refers to the cumulative physiological toll that chronic stress places on the body over time. Initially, the body's stress response system (the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system) is designed to help individuals cope with acute stressors. However, when stress becomes chronic, these physiological responses can become dysregulated and maladaptive, leading to negative health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, and mental health disorders.
A. Chronic stress has been associated with various changes in gene expression and epigenetic modifications. However, these changes typically occur over longer periods and are not the primary mechanism by which chronic stress leads to illness in most cases.
C. Chronic stress can lead to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, which are responsible for producing and regulating corticosteroids (such as cortisol) and catecholamines (such as adrenaline and noradrenaline). While acute stress typically results in increased production of these stress hormones, chronic stress can lead to desensitization and dysregulation of these systems, resulting in alterations in hormone levels and potential deficits in the availability of these stress mediators. However, deficits in corticosteroids and catecholamines are not the sole mechanism by which chronic stress leads to illness.
D. While chronic stress can certainly contribute to psychological fatigue and depletion of energy reserves, this is not the primary mechanism by which chronic stress leads to illness. The physiological responses to chronic stress, such as dysregulation of stress hormones, inflammation, and oxidative stress, are more directly linked to the development of various illnesses.
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