Author Question: During an abdominal assessment, the nurse is unable to hear bowel sounds in a patient's abdomen. ... (Read 68 times)

renzo156 · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

During an abdominal assessment, the nurse is unable to hear bowel sounds in a patient's abdomen. Before reporting this finding as silent bowel sounds, the nurse should listen for at least:

a. 1 minute.
b. 5 minutes.
c. 10 minutes.
d. 2 minutes in each quadrant.

Question 2

The nurse is reviewing the assessment of an aortic aneurysm. Which of these statements is true regarding an aortic aneurysm?

a. A bruit is absent.
b. Femoral pulses are increased.
c. A pulsating mass is usually present.
d. Most are located below the umbilicus.

chinwesucks · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Absent bowel sounds are rare. The nurse must listen for 5 minutes before deciding that bowel sounds are completely absent.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Most aortic aneurysms are palpable during routine examination and feel like a pulsating mass. A bruit will be audible, and femoral pulses are present but decreased. Such aneurysms are located in the upper abdomen just to the left of midline.