A nurse is planning care for a client who has a prescription for a bowel-training program following a spinal cord injury.
Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
Encourage a maximum fluid intake of 1,500 mL per day.
Increase the amount of refined grains in the client’s diet.
Provide the client with a cold drink prior to defecation.
Administer a cathartic suppository 30 min prior to scheduled defecation times.
The Correct Answer is D
This is because a cathartic suppository stimulates the nerve endings in the rectum, causing a contraction of the bowel and facilitating defecation. This is especially helpful for clients who have an upper motor neuron or areflexic bowel, which means they have lost the ability to feel when the rectum is full and have a tight anal sphincter muscle. A bowel program is a way of controlling or moving the bowels after a spinal cord injury, which may affect normal bowel function depending on the spinal level involved. A bowel program aims to achieve regular bowel movements, prevent constipation or impaction, and avoid accidents.
Choice A is wrong because encouraging a maximum fluid intake of 1,500 mL per day is not enough to prevent constipation and promote bowel health. A fluid intake of at least 2,000 mL per day is recommended for most adults.
Choice B is wrong because increasing the amount of refined grains in the client’s diet can worsen constipation and reduce stool bulk.
Refined grains are low in fiber, which is essential for normal bowel function. A high-fiber diet of at least 20 to 35 grams per day is advised for clients with spinal cord injuries.
Choice C is wrong because providing the client with a cold drink prior to defecation can have the opposite effect of stimulating the bowel.
Cold drinks can slow down the digestive process and reduce peristalsis, which is the movement of food through the intestines. Warm or hot drinks can help stimulate the bowel and increase peristalsis.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
This is because at 12 weeks of gestation, the uterus is still low in the pelvis and the fetal heart tones are best audible through the fetal back, which is usually located just above the symphysis pubis. The fetal heart rate at this stage is normally between 120 and 180 beats per minute.
Choice B is wrong because measuring the fundal height is not necessary to determine the placement of the ultrasound stethoscope at 12 weeks of gestation. The fundal height is usually measured from 20 weeks of gestation onwards to assess fetal growth and estimate gestational age.
Choice C is wrong because placing the client in a side-lying position prior to assessing the fetal heart rate is not required at 12 weeks of gestation. This position may be helpful later in pregnancy to improve maternal blood flow and oxygen delivery to the fetus, especially if there are signs of fetal distress or hypoxia.
Choice D is wrong because performing Leopold maneuvers prior to auscultating the fetal heart rate is not appropriate at 12 weeks of gestation.
Leopold maneuvers are a series of four steps to palpate the abdomen and determine the fetal position, presentation, lie, and engagement. They are usually performed after 24 weeks of gestation when the fetus is large enough to be felt through the abdominal wall.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
This is because a normal FHR baseline is between 110 and 160 bpm, and anything above or below this range indicates fetal distress and should be reported to the provider. An FHR baseline of 170/min could indicate fetal tachycardia, which could be caused by maternal fever, infection, dehydration, fetal anemia, or fetal hypoxia.
Choice A is wrong because early decelerations in the FHR are normal and benign, and indicate head compression during contractions.
They do not require any intervention or reporting.
Choice B is wrong because contractions lasting 80 seconds are within the normal range for active labor, which is 40 to 90 seconds per contraction.
They do not indicate any complication or abnormality.
Choice D is wrong because a temperature of 37.4° C (99.3° F) is slightly elevated but not considered a fever. A fever is defined as a temperature of 38° C (100.4° F) or higher.
A mild increase in temperature could be due to dehydration, exertion, or environmental factors, and does not necessarily indicate infection or inflammation.
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