The Nurse Is Conducting an Assessment on a Client Who

Multiple Choice

The nurse is conducting an assessment on a client who is 36 hours postoperative following an appendectomy. During the assessment, the nurse is unable to hear any bowel sounds. The client denies passing flatus. Given this information, which action is most appropriate by the nurse?

A) Withholding food and oral fluids until intestinal motility has returned
B) Encouraging the client to increase oral fluid intake to promote peristalsis
C) Encouraging the client to increase solid food intake to promote peristalsis
D) Encouraging the client to decrease the amount of oral food and fluid intake