Urinary & Bowel Elimination Flashcards
7 cards from real Basic Nursing Skills practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Urinary & Bowel Elimination flashcards as text
What is the priority nursing action when caring for a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter to prevent infection?
Answer: Maintain a closed drainage system
Maintaining a closed, sterile drainage system is the most important intervention to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
Dark, tarry (melena) stools are most commonly associated with:
Answer: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding
Melena results from digested blood and typically indicates bleeding in the upper GI tract (esophagus, stomach, or proximal small intestine).
The normal range for urine specific gravity is:
Answer: 1.005–1.030
Normal urine specific gravity ranges from 1.005 to 1.030, reflecting the kidney's ability to concentrate or dilute urine based on hydration status.
When collecting a clean-catch midstream urine specimen from a female patient, the nurse should instruct the patient to:
Answer: Cleanse the urethral area front to back, then collect midstream urine
Cleansing front to back prevents contamination with perineal flora, and collecting midstream urine reduces urethral meatal contamination.
Which assessment finding is most consistent with urinary retention?
Answer: Bladder distension with inability to void
Urinary retention is characterized by the inability to empty the bladder, leading to bladder distension, suprapubic discomfort, and urge without output.
The correct position for administering a tap water enema is:
Answer: Left Sims' position
Left Sims' position (left lateral with right knee flexed) aligns the sigmoid colon and rectum for easier instillation and patient comfort.
A patient suddenly reports a strong urge to defecate. The nurse's first action should be to:
Answer: Assist the patient to the commode or bathroom promptly
Prompt assistance to the toilet or commode respects patient dignity, prevents incontinence, and maintains bowel continence.