Exam 18: Assessing the Anus and Rectum

During a health history, a 48-year-old woman reports that she has been noticing that her stools look like "pencils." What should be your next question?

You are performing a digital rectal assessment and want to assess the anal sphincter muscle tone. As you are gently inserting your finger into the rectum, what instructions will you give to the patient?

The patient reports that he has not had a bowel movement in 7 days. He has had several doses of a laxative without any results. The nurse is going to assess for fecal impaction by performing a digital rectal examination. What instruction should the nurse give to the patient prior to the assessment?

You are about to inspect the anus. How would the male patient be positioned? Select all that apply.

You are about to inspect the anus of a patient complaining of soreness in the rectal area. Which supplies are needed to perform an inspection? Select all that apply.

The ROME III Diagnostic Criteria for Functional Constipation must include which two or more of the following? Select all that apply.

You are performing a focused history on a patient who is complaining of rectal pain and itching. He reports small amounts of blood on the toilet paper after having a bowel movement. You inspect the anal area and note a large, red, soft protrusion next to the anus. This is called a(n):

You are going to be performing a digital rectal examination. Identify the positions that the patient can choose to be in for this assessment. Select all that apply.

The rectum is the lower part of the sigmoid colon that contains which of the following vasculature? Select all that apply.

You are performing a focused health history on a patient's pattern of bowel elimination. Which of the following questions would you ask? Select all that apply.

The health-care provider reviewed a patient's recent blood work and noted the patient to be anemic. A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) was ordered. You have obtained a stool sample. Put the steps in order to test the stool for occult blood (1-8). (Enter the number of each step in the proper sequence. Do not use punctuation or spaces. Example: 1234.) ____1. Close the specimen-side FOBT slide. ____2. Set up the FOBT by opening up the side for the sample application. ____3. Apply a sample specimen to both of the FOBT windows. ____4. Observe the specimen site's color. ____5. Put on gloves. ____6. Remove and discard gloves. ____7. Open the opposite side of the FOBT slide. ____8. Drop one or two drops on each window as directed.

The main function of the glands in the anal canal is to:

You are performing a digital rectal examination and assessing the prostate gland. What will you assess for? Select all that apply.

A patient comes to the urgent care center stating that today he noticed bright red blood in his stool. He denies abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. He states that he had a similar episode that occurred last week. Bright red blood usually indicates:

Which culture has the highest rates of colorectal cancer?

You are inspecting the anus and perianal area. Which of the following are normal findings? Select all that apply.

The nurse has performed a digital rectal examination and found the following findings that are seen in this picture. What is the name of the condition? ____________________ ____________________ ____________________

The rectum partially or fully intussuscepts and comes out through the anus. This condition is called ____________________ ____________________ .

What helps to propel waste materials from the rectum into the anal canal?

You are caring for a patient who has been on intravenous antibiotic therapy for 7 days. He has now developed watery, nonbloody, foul-smelling diarrhea. You suspect the organism causing this diarrhea is: