The nurse is conducting an assessment on a client who is 36 hours postoperative following an appendectomy. During the assessment, the nurse is unable to hear any bowel sounds. The client denies passing flatus (gas). Given this information, which action is most appropriate by the nurse?
Encouraging the client to increase intake of foods that contain high fat to increase GI motility.
Encouraging the client to increase solid food intake to promote peristalsis.
Encouraging the client to increase intake of foods that contain fiber.
Withholding food and oral fluids until intestinal mobility has returned.
The Correct Answer is D
Withholding food and oral fluids until intestinal mobility has returned. This is because the client may have postoperative ileus (POI), which is a reduction of gastrointestinal motility after abdominal surgery. POI is characterized by abdominal distension, lack of bowel sounds, accumulation of gas and fluids in the bowel, and delayed passage of flatus and stools.
Giving food and fluids to a client with POI may worsen the condition and cause complications.
Choice A is wrong because high fat foods may slow down GI motility and increase the risk of constipation.
Choice B is wrong because solid food intake may also aggravate POI and cause abdominal discomfort.
Choice C is wrong because fiber intake may increase gas production and distension in the bowel. The nurse should auscultate the abdomen for bowel sounds, and if they are present, or the client reports passing flatus, clear fluids can commence, and aperients can be administered. However, bowel sounds are not a reliable indicator of the end of POI, as they may not be associated with the time of first flatus.
Therefore, withholding food and oral fluids until intestinal mobility has returned is the most appropriate action by the nurse.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. Cataracts are a cloudy, opaque area over the lens of one eye that can impair vision
Choice B is wrong because diabetic retinopathy is a condition that affects the blood vessels of the retina, not the lens. It can cause blurred vision, floaters, or vision loss
Choice C is wrong because glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve due to high pressure in the eye. It can cause blind spots, halos around lights, or vision loss
Choice D is wrong because macular degeneration is a condition that damages the macula, the central part of the retina. It can cause blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field
: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cataracts/
: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and diseases/diabetic-retinopathy
: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/symptoms causes/syc-20372839
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macular_degeneration
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Splenomegaly and jaundice are signs of hemolytic anemia, a disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are made.
Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen, which may trap and destroy healthy red blood cells. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a waste product of hemoglobin breakdown. Choice A is wrong because red, sore tongue is a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, not hemolytic anemia.
Choice B is wrong because pica is a craving for nonfood items, such as ice, dirt, or starch. It is a sign of iron deficiency anemia, not hemolytic anemia. Choice D is wrong because paresthesias are sensations of tingling, numbness, or prickling in the hands or feet. They are a sign of pernicious anemia, a type of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, not hemolytic anemia.
Normal ranges for red blood cell count are 4.5 to 5.9 million cells per microliter for men and 4.1 to 5.1 million cells per microliter for women. Normal ranges for hemoglobin are 13.5 to 17.5 grams per deciliter for men and 12.0 to 15.5 gramsper deciliter for women. Normal ranges for bilirubin are 0.1 to 1.2 milligrams per deciliter for adults.
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