When assessing the older adult for bowel health, the nurse is ...

[mrsjacobs44]

When assessing the older adult for bowel health, the nurse is most effective in obtaining subjective data when asking
 
  a. Would you describe your bowel move-ments as usually normal?
  b. Do you have a problem with constipa-tion?
  c. How often do you usually have a bowel movement?
  d. Have your bowel movements changed recently?

Question 2

A patient is newly widowed and lives alone. Which suggestion by the nurse will help the adult children maximize the patient's nutritional status?
 
  a. Help identify possible barriers to their mother achieving good nutritional health.
  b. Ensure that the patient has an adequate supply of healthy, easily prepared foods available.
  c. Contact a food delivery service to provide one nutritiously sound meal a day.
  d. Arrange a schedule that allows someone to have dinner with her each evening.

[Loise Hard]

Answer to Question 1

C
Subjective data can be obtained through the health history. Asking the patient to identify how often the bowels move would establish the fundamental baseline of the patient's elimination pat-terns. Normal is a vague term that should not be used. Asking if there are problems with con-stipation or if bowel habits have changed are yes/no questions, which are generally avoided.

Answer to Question 2

D
The lack of companionship during mealtime that can lead to depression or social isolation often causes the patient to eat poorly and thus develop a nutritional deficiency. The patient who is newly widowed may not have adjusted to this change in status. The other actions are also help-ful, but they are not as important for this patient.

[mrsjacobs44]

Thank you

[Loise Hard]

No problemo