The nurse is caring for an older adult in the medical-surgical unit:
84-year-old female was admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a three-day history of abdominal pain, distention, nausea, and persistent vomiting. She reports that she has not had a bowel movement in five days and has no appetite.
Which of the following findings are consistent with a small bowel obstruction: Select all that apply.
Right lower quadrant abdominal pain
Fever
Nausea and vomiting
Unable to pass stool
distended abdomen
Correct Answer : C,D,E
Choice A rationale: Small bowel obstructions typically present with diffuse, crampy abdominal pain rather than localized pain in the right lower quadrant.
Choice B rationale: While fever can be present in some cases, it's not a consistent finding with small bowel obstruction unless there's perforation.
Choice C rationale: Common symptoms of small bowel obstruction due to the buildup of contents proximal to the obstruction.
Choice D rationale: A key feature of small bowel obstruction due to the blockage preventing normal bowel movements.
Choice E rationale: Accumulation of gas and fluid above the obstruction causes abdominal distention.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale: Low blood pressure sensed by baroreceptors in the kidneys would stimulate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which regulates blood pressure and sodium balance.
Choice B rationale: Low osmolality sensed by osmoreceptors in the kidneys would
indicate that the body has excess water and needs to excrete it, which would inhibit ADH release.
Choice C rationale: ADH, or antidiuretic hormone, is a peptide hormone that regulates the water balance in the body. It is released from the posterior pituitary gland in response to signals from the hypothalamus. When the plasma osmolarity, or the concentration of solutes in the blood, is high, it means that the body is dehydrated and needs to conserve water. The osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus detect this change and stimulate the release of ADH, which acts on the kidneys to increase water
reabsorption and decrease urine output. This helps to lower the plasma osmolarity and restore the water balance.
Choice D rationale: High concentration of potassium sensed by chemoreceptors in the carotid body would affect the acid-base balance and respiratory rate, but not ADH
release.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale: A breast lump that increases in size before the menstrual period might be related to hormonal changes and is not necessarily indicative of a concerning issue.
Choice B rationale: Bilateral breast nodules that are tender with palpation might be related to benign conditions or hormonal changes.
Choice C rationale: A small, mobile, rubbery breast lump could suggest a benign condition like a fibroadenoma, which might not be as concerning.
Choice D rationale: A breast nodule that is 1 cm in size, nontender, and fixed could potentially raise concerns about malignancy and requires further evaluation.
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