Exam 26: Anus, Rectum, and Prostate

A 30-year-old woman is visiting the clinic because of "pain in my bottom when I have a bowel movement." The nurse should assess for which problem?

The mother of a 5-year-old girl tells the nurse that she has noticed her daughter "scratching at her bottom a lot the last few days." During the assessment, the nurse finds redness and raised skin in the anal area. What does this finding likely indicate?

While performing an assessment of the perianal area of a patient, the nurse notices that the pigmentation of the anus is darker than the surrounding skin, the anal opening is closed, and a skin sac that is shiny and blue is noted. The patient mentioned that he has had pain with bowel movements and has occasionally noted some spots of blood. What does this assessment and history most likely indicate?

A 62-year-old man is experiencing fever, chills, malaise, urinary frequency, and urgency. He also reports urethral discharge and a dull aching pain in the perineal and rectal area. These symptoms are most consistent with which condition?

Which statement concerning the anal canal is true?

A 46-year-old man requires an assessment of his sigmoid colon. Which instrument or technique is most appropriate for this examination?

The nurse is performing a digital examination of a patient's prostate gland and notices that a normal prostate gland includes which of the following characteristics? (Select all that apply.)

During a group discussion on men's health, what group should the nurse inform them has the highest incidence of prostate cancer?

As the nurse is taking the health history, the patient states, "It really hurts back there, and sometimes it itches, too. I have even seen blood on the tissue when I have a bowel movement. Is there something there?" The nurse should expect to see which of these upon examination of the anus?

The nurse notices that a patient has had a pale, yellow, greasy stool, or steatorrhea. What is the cause of this finding?

During the health history of a patient who reports chronic constipation, the patient asks the nurse about foods to eat to avoid constipation. What should the nurse include as an example of an appropriate food?

What structure secretes a thin, milky alkaline fluid to enhance the viability of sperm?

The nurse is caring for a newborn infant. Thirty hours after birth, the infant passes a dark green meconium stool. What is the importance of this finding?

A 40-year-old black man is in the office for his annual physical examination. Which statement regarding the PSA blood test is true?

A patient who is visiting the clinic reports having "stomach pains for 2 weeks" and describes his stools as being "soft and black" for approximately the last 10 days. He denies taking any medications. What do these symptoms suggest?

During an assessment of a 20-year-old man, the nurse finds a small palpable lesion with a tuft of hair located directly over the coccyx. What does this finding indicate?

Which statement concerning the sphincters is correct?

A 70-year-old man is visiting the clinic for difficulty in passing urine. In the health history, he indicates that he has to urinate frequently, especially at night. He has burning when he urinates and has noticed pain in his back. Considering this history, what might the nurse expect to find during the physical assessment?

During an assessment of the newborn, the nurse expects to see which finding when the anal area is slightly stroked?

A 13-year-old girl is visiting the clinic for a sports physical examination. The nurse should remember to include which of these tests in the examination?