LPN Urinary and Bowel Elimination Flashcards
6 cards from real LPN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 LPN Urinary and Bowel Elimination flashcards as text
Which medication class commonly causes urinary retention as a side effect?
Answer: Anticholinergics (e.g., diphenhydramine, oxybutynin)
Anticholinergic medications block muscarinic receptors in the bladder, reducing detrusor muscle contractions and causing urinary retention.
A patient with a new ileostomy asks what the output should look like. What is the correct response?
Answer: Liquid to semi-liquid output since the colon's water absorption is bypassed
An ileostomy drains contents before they reach the colon, so output is liquid to semi-liquid because most water reabsorption occurs in the colon.
What is the correct positioning for a female patient during urinary catheterization?
Answer: Dorsal recumbent position with knees bent and thighs separated
The dorsal recumbent position with knees bent and thighs separated provides optimal visualization and access to the urinary meatus for female catheterization.
Which dietary modification is most effective for preventing constipation?
Answer: Increasing dietary fiber (25–35 g/day) and fluid intake to at least 8 glasses of water daily
A high-fiber diet increases stool bulk and speeds intestinal transit, while adequate fluid intake softens stool and prevents constipation.
When should an ostomy (colostomy or ileostomy) pouch be changed or emptied?
Answer: When the pouch is one-third to one-half full to prevent leakage and skin breakdown
Emptying the pouch when one-third to one-half full prevents the weight from breaking the seal, reducing the risk of leakage and peristomal skin breakdown.
Which clinical finding is most consistent with fecal impaction?
Answer: Liquid stool oozing around hard stool mass with no formed stool for several days
Fecal impaction presents with liquid stool leaking around a hard, immovable stool mass; patients often report rectal fullness and no normal bowel movement for days.