The nurse is caring for an older adult in the medical-surgical unit:

84-year-old female was admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a three-day history of abdominal pain, distention, nausea, and persistent vomiting. She reports that she has not had a bowel movement in five days and has no appetite.

Exhibits

Which of the following findings are consistent with a small bowel obstruction: Select all that apply.

Choice A rationale: A/V fistula assessment is not concerning because a positive bruit and thrill indicate adequate blood flow through the fistula. A dry dressing with scant amount of blood is expected after hemodialysis.

Choice B rationale: The client's low blood pressure could indicate hypotension, which can be critical, especially after hemodialysis. It may contribute to the client's reported dizziness and fatigue.

Choice C rationale: The client’s pulse is irregular which may indicate cardiac arrhythmia. Choice D rationale: Anuria, the absence of urine output, is a significant concern. It could indicate kidney dysfunction or inadequate clearance of waste products, which may have implications following hemodialysis.

Choice E rationale: Oxygen saturation at 92% is relatively low. While the client is alert and oriented, a low oxygen saturation level may indicate potential respiratory compromise or inadequate oxygenation.

Choice F rationale: Temperature is not concerning because it is within normal range.

Choice G rationale: Neurological assessment is not concerning because the client is alert and oriented. The dizziness is likely related to the hypotension and will resolve once the blood pressure is stabilized.

Choice A rationale: Rotating the neck to one side while observing the eyes moving to the opposite side is a procedure for testing for oculocephalic reflex or doll's eye

phenomenon, which indicates brainstem function.

Choice B rationale: This is the correct answer. Kernig's sign is a clinical sign that indicates meningitis, which is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. To test for Kernig's sign, the nurse should flex the patient's hip to 90 degrees and then attempt to extend the knee. A positive Kernig's sign is when the patient

experiences pain in the lower back or hamstring, resists knee extension, or involuntarily flexes the opposite leg.

Choice C rationale: Stroking the lateral aspect of the sole of the patient's foot and observing for dorsiflexion of the big toe is a procedure for testing for Babinski's sign, which indicates upper motor neuron lesion or damage.

Choice D rationale: Passively flexing the patient's neck forward and observing for hip and knee flexion is a procedure for testing for Brudzinski's sign, which also indicates meningitis.