A 68-year-old male has been admitted to the hospital for nutritional deficiencies. Approximately 6 months ago, he had part of his duodenum surgically removed following a bowel obstruction.
The nurse understands that the patient's nutritional deficiencies are occurring because
1. His diet is low in minerals and vitamins.
2. Enzymes produced in the duodenum are not available.
3. Removal of the duodenum made the colon too short for proper absorption.
4. His ability to absorb nutrients is decreased.
Question 2
The day after surgery, a patient asks a nurse, Why do the nurses keep listening to my abdomen? That's not where I had surgery. Which of the following responses best answers the patient's question?
1. General anesthesia puts everything to sleep, including the bowel, so it is important to determine when bowel sounds have returned. When your bowel sounds return, your surgeon will allow you to begin to eat and drink.
2. Listening to your bowel sounds is just part of the physical assessment, so it's nothing you need to worry about. It will only take me a few minutes to listen; then I'll let you rest.
3. We listen so we can let your surgeon know your gastrointestinal system wasn't damaged by the anesthesia.
4. Your surgeon has written orders to assess your abdomen every 4 hours. I'm sorry if it worries you, but I must do my job.
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