A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving dialysis. An order on the client's chart reads "Guaiac all stools." What should the nurse do?

Question

A) Monitor all stools for consistency and color.
B) Measure all stools to monitor the output.
C) Send all stools for occult blood test.
D) Send all stools for a culture and sensitivity test.

Answer 1

C
Feedback:
When the order reads "Guaiac all stools," the nurse should send all stools for a Guaiac test to detect the presence of occult blood in the feces. This is done to check for internal bleeding from the vascular kidney. Such an order does not mean that the nurse should monitor stools for consistency and color, measure them, or send them for a culture and sensitivity test.