William is a nurse caring for several patients on the surgical unit of the hospital. He knows that constipation can be a significant health hazard and encourages his postoperative patients to drink fluids
Which of the following patients that he is caring for are most at risk from complications of constipation? A. 35-year-old man with back surgery
B. 47-year-old woman with abdominal hysterectomy
C. 29-year-old women with carpal tunnel surgery
D. 77-year-old man with hip surgery
B
Constipation is a significant health hazard. Straining during defecation causes problems for pa-tients with recent abdominal, gynecological, or rectal surgery. An effort to pass a stool can cause sutures to separate, reopening a wound. In addition, patients with cardiovascular disease, diseas-es causing elevated intraocular pressure (glaucoma), and increased intracranial pressure need to prevent constipation and avoid using the Valsalva maneuver.
You might also like to view...
One hundred women received notification that their screening tests suggested that they might have a serious health problem. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure that they will complete follow-up testing?
a. Compliment them on their willingness to be tested and suggest an immediate appointment before they have too much time to think about the issue. b. Imply that the test could be wrong; the testing materials may not be effective, but the only way to be sure is to be tested further. c. Point out that screening is only suggestive and that not all positive screenings mean they actually have the health problem. d. Reassurance is not therapeutic; reality must be faced. Emphasize the need for immediate treatment.
A nurse is caring for a newly admitted patient with a suspected gastrointestinal (GI) bleed. The nurse assesses the patient's stool after a bowel movement and notes it to be a tarry-black color
The nurse recognizes that the bleeding is likely occurring where? A) The lower GI tract B) The upper GI tract C) The esophagus D) The anal area
A woman is scheduled to have a postcoital test. What information would you give her concerning this?
A) She should douche before coming to the clinic. B) It will be scheduled immediately after her menstrual flow. C) She can expect no pain from the procedure. D) Her sexual partner should use a condom for 3 days afterward.
As a part of a community policy using upstream approaches to improve pregnancy outcomes, a nurse would be looking to establish which of the following changes?
A. Hiring doulas to assist women during delivery B. Scheduling phone calls to women two weeks after bringing their baby home from the hospital C. Increasing offerings of childbirth classes D. Conducting preconception and nutrition consultations