The absence of bowel sounds is established after listening for:
2 full minutes.
1 full minute.
5 full mutes.
1 1/2 minutes.
The Correct Answer is C
A. 2 full minutes: Listening for 2 minutes is insufficient to determine the absence of bowel sounds reliably.
B. 1 full minute: One minute is also too brief, as bowel sounds can sometimes be infrequent, especially in certain conditions.
C. 5 full minutes. The absence of bowel sounds is confirmed after listening in each quadrant for a minimum of 5 full minutes. This is necessary to ensure that the lack of sounds is not due to temporary decreased activity and is instead a true absence, which may indicate a medical emergency like a bowel obstruction.
D. 1 1/2 minutes: This time is not long enough to confirm the absence of bowel sounds accurately.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Percussion, inspection, palpation, auscultation: This sequence could disturb bowel sounds by percussing before auscultation, making it difficult to assess them accurately.
B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation: Palpating before auscultating can alter bowel sounds, so it’s not the correct order.
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation: This sequence is recommended for abdominal assessment to avoid altering bowel sounds. Inspection is done first to observe any visible abnormalities, followed by auscultation to listen to bowel sounds before palpating or percussing, which could disrupt the sounds.
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion: Inspection should always be first, making this option incorrect as it begins with auscultation.
What subjective assessment information in this client situation is the most important and immediate concern for the nurse?
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Belching: Belching is a common symptom associated with GERD or indigestion, but it is not as critical as chest pain.
B. Chest pain: Chest pain is the priority because it can sometimes be a sign of serious conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) mimicking angina, or even cardiac issues. This must be ruled out before considering other symptoms.
C. Flatulence: This is also a typical symptom with digestive issues but does not present an immediate concern compared to chest pain.
D. Pain with position: Although positional pain is common with GERD, it does not warrant immediate concern like chest pain, which could indicate a potential cardiac issue.