The nurse is caring for a patient who has been on bed rest for several weeks. The nurse notes that the patient is continually seeping liquid stool rectally. The nurse should take which action?
a. Hold the patient's antibiotics.
b. Put the patient on a bran diet.
c. Perform a digital rectal examination.
d. Increase the dosage of the patient's antibiotics.
C
Continual seepage of diarrhea may occur with an impaction, and a digital rectal examination can verify its presence. Diarrhea is often due to diet or antibiotic use, which alters the normal flora in the gastrointestinal tract. However, a physician's order is required to change these, and continual seepage of stool is more likely the result of impaction; this should be ruled out first.
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1. 1-3 inches above the ostomy opening 2. 3-6 inches above the ostomy opening 3. 5-10 inches above the ostomy opening 4. 12 inches above the ostomy opening
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When assessing a patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, the nurse would expect to observe:
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