Bowel Obstruction Quiz: NCLEX Nursing Review

1. True or False: Partial bowel obstruction always requires immediate surgical intervention.

True

False

2. Which clinical sign indicates that conservative management of bowel obstruction has failed?

Persistent fever and peritoneal signs

Mild abdominal discomfort

Occasional nausea

Slight abdominal distention

3. True or False: A patient with complete bowel obstruction will pass stool and flatus normally.

True

False

Submit

6. Which assessment finding suggests a strangulated bowel obstruction rather than simple obstruction?

Mild abdominal tenderness

Severe localized pain with peritoneal signs

Occasional vomiting

Mild distention

7. What is the normal postoperative timeline for return of bowel function after abdominal surgery?

12-24 hours

2-3 days

1 week

2 weeks

8. A patient with bowel obstruction has a serum sodium of 128 mEq/L. What is the primary cause?

Excessive vomiting and fluid losses

Increased sodium intake

Kidney failure

Adrenal insufficiency

9. True or False: Bowel obstruction caused by adhesions can only be treated surgically.

True

False

10. Which medication should be avoided in patients with suspected bowel obstruction?

Antacids

Opioids

Antiemetics

Antibiotics

11. Which clinical finding is most characteristic of mechanical bowel obstruction?

Colicky abdominal pain with visible peristaltic waves

Constant dull pain without distention

Pain relieved by defecation

Gradual weight loss over weeks

12. A patient with bowel obstruction reports sudden relief of pain followed by fever and tachycardia. What should you suspect?

Spontaneous resolution

Bowel perforation

Medication effectiveness

Improved peristalsis

13. What is the most common cause of small bowel obstruction in non-surgical patients?

Crohn's disease

Hernias

Adhesions from prior surgery

Intussusception

14. The presence of multiple air-fluid levels on abdominal X-ray is characteristic of which type of obstruction?

Small bowel obstruction

Large bowel obstruction

Paralytic ileus

Gastric outlet obstruction

15. A post-operative patient develops bowel obstruction on day 3. What is the most likely cause?

Adhesions

Tumor

Volvulus

Hernia

16. Which lab value is most critical to monitor in a patient with prolonged bowel obstruction?

Serum potassium

Hemoglobin

Platelet count

Albumin

17. Nasogastric tube decompression is ordered for bowel obstruction. What is the primary goal?

Prevent vomiting and reduce abdominal distention

Restore normal bowel motility

Eliminate the cause of obstruction

Improve nutritional status

18. A patient with bowel obstruction has absent bowel sounds and rigid abdomen. What complication should you suspect?

Bowel perforation

Dehydration

Electrolyte imbalance

Malabsorption

19. Which imaging study is most useful for confirming bowel obstruction and determining its location?

Abdominal ultrasound

CT scan with contrast

Chest X-ray

MRI abdomen

20. A patient presents with abdominal distention, high-pitched bowel sounds, and vomiting. What is the primary nursing concern?

Fluid and electrolyte imbalance

Constipation

Malnutrition

Infection

Bowel Obstruction Quiz: Can You Catch It Early?

1. True or False: Partial bowel obstruction always requires immediate surgical intervention.

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Which clinical sign indicates that conservative management of bowel obstruction has failed?

3. True or False: A patient with complete bowel obstruction will pass stool and flatus normally.

4. Bowel obstruction caused by ____ is most common in pediatric patients.

5. The primary reason for IV fluid administration in bowel obstruction is to ____.

6. Which assessment finding suggests a strangulated bowel obstruction rather than simple obstruction?

7. What is the normal postoperative timeline for return of bowel function after abdominal surgery?

8. A patient with bowel obstruction has a serum sodium of 128 mEq/L. What is the primary cause?

9. True or False: Bowel obstruction caused by adhesions can only be treated surgically.

10. Which medication should be avoided in patients with suspected bowel obstruction?

11. Which clinical finding is most characteristic of mechanical bowel obstruction?

12. A patient with bowel obstruction reports sudden relief of pain followed by fever and tachycardia. What should you suspect?

13. What is the most common cause of small bowel obstruction in non-surgical patients?

14. The presence of multiple air-fluid levels on abdominal X-ray is characteristic of which type of obstruction?

15. A post-operative patient develops bowel obstruction on day 3. What is the most likely cause?

16. Which lab value is most critical to monitor in a patient with prolonged bowel obstruction?

17. Nasogastric tube decompression is ordered for bowel obstruction. What is the primary goal?

18. A patient with bowel obstruction has absent bowel sounds and rigid abdomen. What complication should you suspect?

19. Which imaging study is most useful for confirming bowel obstruction and determining its location?

20. A patient presents with abdominal distention, high-pitched bowel sounds, and vomiting. What is the primary nursing concern?