A patient is having trouble defecating into a bedpan while lying in bed. Which action by the nurse would assist the patient in having a successful bowel movement?

The nurse is caring for an anxious patient who is scheduled for surgery for colostomy placement. While the nurse is talking to the patient, the patient states, "I am so scared." It is a priority for the nurse to focus on addressing the

A nurse is digitally removing stool that is impacted from a patient. The nurse should stop the procedure immediately and take corrective action if the patient's:

A patient has stools that are foulsmelling and that float on water. The nurse documents that this patient is having

A nurse is caring for a patient with a colostomy. The ostomy drainage bag should be emptied whenever it is

Your patient complains of excessive flatus. When reviewing the patient's dietary intake, which food, if eaten regularly, would you identify as possibly responsible?

The nurse is emptying an ileostomy pouch for a patient. Which assessment finding would the nurse report immediately?

A patient with Crohn's disease underwent a procedure to remove a portion of the large intestine. The distal portion of the colon was removed, allowing it time to rest and heal. A nurse identifies that this type of bowel diversion is known

A patient who is constipated has just received a mineral oilretention enema. The nurse encourages this patient to hold this enema for a minimum of how long?

A patient with a colostomy asks how often the faceplate (wafer) of the ostomy appliance should be changed. The most appropriate response by the nurse is that it is usually changed every

A male patient has told a nurse that he occasionally fights constipation. Teaching the patient how to prevent constipation and promote normal elimination, the nurse instructs him to