The nurse is caring for a client who complains of frequent constipation. Which factor in the client's history is least likely to be the cause of the constipation?
1. Inadequate fluid intake
2. Repeated inhibition of the urge to defecate
3. Inadequate fiber intake
4. The presence of Escherichia coli
Correct Answer: 4
The bowel normally contains Escherichia coli, and its presence would not contribute to constipation. Inadequate fluid intake or fiber intake could result in constipation, and correcting these generally is the first recommendation for treatment. Clients who frequently resist the urge to defecate can develop constipation because of the expansion of the rectum to accommodate accumulated feces, eventually losing sensitivity to the need to defecate.
You might also like to view...
What is one process by which dissolved chemicals from one area of the body to another?
A) Passive osmosis B) Free flow C) Passive elimination D) Active transport
What is one of the most important goals of patient education?
A) To encourage patients to exercise B) To encourage patients to adhere to their therapeutic regimen C) To teach nutritional awareness D) To encourage a disease-free state
The client is a 64-year-old man with late-stage colon cancer being cared for at home by his 63-year-old wife. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority for teaching the wife how to manage symptoms?
A. Imbalanced Nutrition, Less than Body Requirements related to fatigue and in-creased metabolism B. Constipation related to decreased activity and medication regimen C. Activity Intolerance related to dyspnea and fatigue D. Acute Pain related to metastasis
The daughter of a client with Alzheimer's disease asks what has caused her father's disease. The nurse's best response is:
a. "We don't know the exact cause." b. "His brain lacks norepinephrine." c. "His brain is deficient in dopamine." d. "His brain is experiencing accelerating aging changes."