An inpatient has returned to the medical unit after a barium enema. When assessing the patient's subsequent bowel patterns and stools, what finding should the nurse report to the physician?

A) Large, wide stools
B) Milky white stools
C) Three stools during an 8-hour period of time
D) Streaks of blood present in the stool


Ans: D
Feedback:
Barium has a high osmolarity and may draw fluid into the bowel, thus increasing the intraluminal contents and resulting in greater output (large stools). The barium will give the stools a milky white appearance, and it is not uncommon for the patient to experience an increase in the number of bowel movements. Blood in fecal matter is not an expected finding and the nurse should notify the physician.

Nursing

You might also like to view...

A nurse working on a medical-surgical unit has opted to return to school to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree

After considering projected changes in health care and the population cared for in the community, the student might consider selecting which elective course? A) A course on medical Spanish B) A psychology course on young adults C) A personal finance class D) A class on the effect of illness on a young child

Nursing

Which of the following would lead a nurse to suspect that a client has a rotator cuff tear?

A) Ability to stretch arm over the head B) Difficulty lying on affected side C) Pain worse in the morning D) Minimal pain with movement

Nursing

The nurse is reviewing drug therapy for hypertension

According to the JNC-8 guidelines, antihypertensive drug therapy for a newly diagnosed hypertensive African-American patient would most likely include which drug or drug classes? a. Vasodilators alone b. ACE inhibitors alone c. Calcium channel blockers with thiazide diuretics d. Beta blockers with thiazide diuretics

Nursing

A patient's laboratory values indicate a "shift to the left." The nurse would anticipate further testing for which possible conditions? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected

Select all that apply. 1. Bone marrow disease 2. Undetected infection 3. Presence of foreign cells in the bone marrow 4. Immune system insufficiencies 5. Expected response to immunosuppressive therapies

Nursing