The nurse is caring for an older adult in the medical-surgical unit
Item 1 of 1
- Health History
84-year-old female was admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a three-day history of abdominal pain, distention, nausea, and persistent vomiting. She reports that she has not had a bowel movement in five days and has no appetite.
- Vital Signs
Oral temperature 101.1° F (38.3° C)
Pulse 108/minute
Respirations 22/minute
Blood pressure 100/64 mm Hg
Oxygen saturation 96% on room air.
The nurse reviews the client's health history and vital signs
Click to specify if the findings are consistent with a small bowel obstruction or appendicitis. Each row must have at least one but may have more than one response option selected
The nurse reviews the client's health history and vital signs
Click to specify if the findings are consistent with a small bowel obstruction or appendicitis. Each row must have at least one but may have more than one response option selected
| Clinical Findings | Small Bowel Obstruction | Appendicitis |
|---|---|---|
Unable to pass stool | ||
Fever | ||
Distended abdomen | ||
Right lower quadrant abdominal pain | ||
Nausea and vomiting |
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Adult Health
Lesson
Gastrointestinal
Client Need
Test Plan
Physiological Adaptation
Related Topic
Alterations in Body Systems
Item Type
Item Type
AnalyzeCues
Explanation
Clinical features of a small bowel obstruction and appendicitis can be found in the below table –
Treatment for a small bowel obstruction involves operative or non-operative management. Nursing care involves establishing vascular access and rehydrating the client, as prescribed. Intravenous pain medication and nothing-by-mouth (NPO) status will likely be prescribed.
Related Videos
4 Key Topics
Intestinal Obstruction
20.6 Inflammatory & Structural Intestinal Disorders
Appendicitis
20.6 Inflammatory & Structural Intestinal Disorders
Additional Info
