The nurse is preparing to administer a saline laxative with a patient who has been constipated for 4 days. Which is the priority task to be completed by the nurse first?
a. Palpate the abdomen.
b. Ask the patient to recall his or her last meal.
c. Assess for bowel sounds.
d. Assess the patient's respiratory rate.
ANS: C
Laxatives should never be given without assessing for bowel sounds because constipation could be caused by a small bowel obstruction.
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