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health assessment test 4 ch 25
goldfarb barnes
27
Nursing
Undergraduate 3
11/27/2011

Additional Nursing Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

1. Usual bowel routine.

Bowels move regularly? How often? Usual color?Hard or soft?

 •Any straining at stool, incomplete evacuation, urge to have bowel movement but nothing comes?

 

•Eat breakfast?

 

(This increases colon motility and prompts a bowel movement in many.)

 

 •Pain while passing a bowel movement?

Definition

Assess usual bowel routine.

 

Constipation is

 

≤3 stools/week and is a common concern among aging adults.

 

Dyschezia.

Pain due to a local condition

 

(hemorrhoid, fissure) or constipation.

Term

2. Change in bowel habits.

Any

change

in usual

bowel habits?

Loose stools or diarrhea? When did this start?Is the diarrhea associated with nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, something you ate recently?

 •Eaten at a restaurant recently?

 

Anyone else in your group or family have the same symptoms?

 

•Traveled to a foreign country during the past 6 months?

•Stools have a hard consistency? When did this start?

Definition

Diarrhea occurs with

 

gastroenteritis,

colitis,

irritable colon syndrome.

 

Consider food poisoning.

 

Consider parasitic infection.

 

Constipation.

Term

3. Rectal bleeding, blood in the stool.

Ever had black or bloody stools? When did you first notice blood in the stools?What is the color, bright red or dark red-black? How much blood: spotting on the toilet paper or outright passing of blood with the stool?Do the bloody stools have a particular smell?

 •Ever had clay-colored stools?

 

 •Ever had mucus or pus in stool?

 

 •Frothy stool?

 

•Need to pass gas frequently?

Definition

Melena.

 

Black stools may be tarry due to occult blood (melena) from GI bleeding or nontarry from ingestion of iron medications.

 

Red blood in stools occurs with GI bleeding or local bleeding around the anus and with colon and rectal cancer.

 

Clay color indicates absent bile pigment.

 

Steatorrhea

is excessive fat in the stool as in malabsorption of fat.

Flatulence.

Term

4. Medications.

 

What medications do you take—prescription and over-the-counter? Laxatives or stool softeners?

 

Which ones? How often? Iron pills?

 

Do you ever use enemas to move your bowels? How often?

 

Definition
Term

5. Rectal conditions.

Any problems in rectal area: itching, pain or burning, hemorrhoids? How do you treat these?Any hemorrhoid preparations? Ever had a fissure or fistula?How was this treated?

•Ever had a problem controlling your bowels?

Definition

Pruritus.

 

Fecal incontinence.

 

Mucoid discharge and soiled underwear occur with

 

prolapsed hemorrhoids.

Term

6. Family history.

Any

family history:

polyps or cancer in colon or rectum,inflammatory bowel disease,prostatecancer?
Definition

Risk factors for colon cancer,

 

rectal cancer,

 

 prostate cancer.

Term

7. Self-care behaviors.

What is the usual amount of

high-fiber foods

in your daily diet:cereals, apples or other fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads?How many glasses of water do you drink each day?

 •Date of last: digital rectal examination,

 

stool blood test, colonoscopy, (for men) prostate-specific antigen blood test.

Definition

High-fiber foods of the soluble type:

 

(beans, prunes, barley, carrots, broccoli, cabbage) lower cholesterol,

 

whereas insoluble fiber foods:

 

(cereals, wheat germ) reduce risk for colon cancer.

 

Also, fiber foods fight obesity, stabilize blood sugar, and help some GI disorders.

 

Early detection for cancer: DRE performed annually after age 50 years;

 

fecal occult blood test annually after age 50 years;

 

sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or colonoscopy every 10 years after age 50 years;

 

PSA blood test annually for men older than 50 years,

 

except Black men beginning at age 45 years.

2

 

Term

INSPECT THE PERIANAL AREA

 

Spread the buttocks wide apart and observe the perianal region.

 

The anus normally looks moist and hairless, with coarse, folded skin that is more pigmented than the perianal skin.

 

The anal opening is tightly closed.

 

 No lesions are present.

 

Inspect the sacrococcygeal area.

 

Normally, it appears smooth and even.

 

Instruct the person to hold the breath and bear down by performing a Valsalva maneuver.

 

No break in skin integrity or protrusion through the anal opening should be present.

 

Describe any abnormality in clock-face terms,

 

with the 12 o'clock position as the anterior point toward the symphysis pubis

 

and the 6 o'clock position toward the coccyx.

Definition

Inflammation. Lesions or scars.

 

Linear split—fissure.

 

Flabby skin sac—hemorrhoid. Shiny blue skin sac—thrombosed hemorrhoid.

 

Small round opening in anal area

—fistula

 

Inflammation or tenderness, swelling, tuft of hair, or dimple at tip of coccyx may indicate pilonidal cyst

 

Appearance of fissure or hemorrhoids.

 

Circular red doughnut of tissue—rectal prolapse

Term

PALPATE THE ANUS AND RECTUM

 

Drop lubricating jelly onto your gloved index finger.

 

Instruct the person that palpation is not painful but may feel like needing to move the bowels.

 

Place the pad of your index finger gently against the anal verge (Fig. 25-4).

 

You will feel the sphincter tighten and then relax.

 

As it relaxes, flex the tip of your finger and slowly insert it into the anal canal in a direction toward the umbilicus. Never approach the anus at right angles with your index finger extended.

 

Such a jabbing motion does not promote sphincter relaxation and is painful.

 

Rotate your examining finger to palpate the entire muscular ring.

 

 The canal should feel smooth and even. Note the intersphincteric groove circling the canal wall.

 

To assess tone, ask the person to tighten the muscle. The sphincter should tighten evenly around your finger with no pain to the person.

 

Use a bi-digital palpation with your thumb against the perianal tissue (Fig. 25-5).

 

 Press your examining finger toward it.

 

 This maneuver highlights any swelling or tenderness and helps assess the bulbourethral glands.

Definition

Decreased tone.

 

Increased tone occurs with inflammation and anxiety.

 

Tenderness.

Term

anus and rectum cont.

 

Above the anal canal, the rectum turns posteriorly, following the curve of the coccyx and sacrum.

 

Insert your finger farther and explore all around the rectal wall.

 

It normally feels smooth with no nodularity.

 

Promptly report any mass you discover for further examination.

Definition

Internal hemorrhoid above anorectal junction is not palpable unless thrombosed.

 

A soft, slightly movable mass may be a polyp.

 

A firm or hard mass with irregular shape or rolled edges may signify carcinoma

Term

Prostate Gland.

On the anterior wall in the male, note the elastic, bulging prostate gland .Palpate the entire prostate in a systematic manner, but note that only the superior and part of the lateral surfaces are accessible to examination. Press

into

the gland at each location, because when a nodule occurs, it will not project into the rectal lumen. The surface should feel smooth and muscular; search for any distinct nodule or diffuse firmness.Note these characteristics:

Size—2.5 cm long by 4 cm wide; should not protrude more than 1 cm into the rectumv

 

Surface—smooth

 

Consistency—elastic, rubbery

 

Mobility—slightly movable

 

Sensitivity—nontender to palpation

Definition

Enlarged or atrophied gland.

 

Flat with no groove.

 

Nodular.

 

Hard; or boggy, soft, fluctuant.

 

Fixed.

 

Tender.

 

Enlarged, firm, smooth gland with central groove obliterated suggests benign prostatic hypertrophy.

 

Swollen, exquisitely tender gland accompanies prostatitis.

 

Any stone-hard, irregular, fixed nodule indicates carcinoma

Term

In the female, palpate the cervix through the anterior rectal wall.

 

It normally feels like a small, round mass.

 

You also may palpate a retroverted uterus or a tampon in the vagina.

 

Do not mistake the cervix or a tampon for a tumor.

 

Withdraw your examining finger; normally, no bright red blood or mucus is on the glove.

 

To complete the examination, offer the person tissues to remove the lubricant and help the person to a more comfortable position.

Definition
Term

Examination of Stool.

Inspect any feces remaining on the glove.Normally, the color is brown and the consistency is soft.

Test any stool on the glove for occult blood using the specimen container that your agency directs.

 

A negative response is normal.

 

If the stool is Hematest positive, it indicates occult blood.

 

 Note that a false-positive finding may occur if the person has ingested significant amounts of red meat within 3 days of the test.

 

Enhance self-care by providing the average-risk patient an at-home collection kit to screen for asymptomatic colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions (high-risk adenomas).

 

A patient collects the stool specimen at home and mails it to the laboratory.

 

 The guaiac-based fecal occult blood test has long been in use but it requires three separate stool samples to yield a sensitivity of 92%.16

 

Also, false positives can occur due to ingestion of red meat and other foods and certain medications.

 

Evidence shows the newer fecal immunochemical test is easier and requires only one stool sample.

 

It detects antibodies specific for human hemoglobin and is sensitive to invasive cancers and precancerous lesions.

1

 

Definition

Jelly-like mucus shreds mixed in stool indicate inflammation.

 

Bright red blood on stool surface indicates rectal bleeding.

 

Bright red blood mixed with feces indicates possible colonic bleeding.

 

Black tarry stool with distinct malodor ind

icates upper GI bleeding with blood partially digested.

 

(Must lose more than 50 mL from upper GI tract to be considered melena.)

 

Black stool—also occurs with ingesting iron or bismuth preparations.

 

Gray, tan stool—absent bile pigment (e.g., obstructive jaundice).

 

Pale yellow, greasy stool—increased fat content (steatorrhea), as occurs with malabsorption syndrome.

 

Occult bleeding usually indicates cancer of the colon.

Term

 

The Aging Adult

 

As an aging person performs the Valsalva maneuver,

 

you may note relaxation of the perianal musculature and decreased sphincter control.

 

Otherwise, the full examination proceeds as that described earlier for the younger adult.

Definition
Term
pilonidil cyst or sinus
Definition

A hair-containing cyst or sinus located in the midline over the coccyx or lower sacrum.

 

Often opens as a dimple with visible tuft of hair and, possibly, an erythematous halo.

 

Or, may appear as a palpable cyst.

 

When advanced, has a palpable sinus tract.

 

 Although it is a congenital disorder, the lesion is first diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 30 years.

Term
anorectal fistula
Definition

A chronically inflamed gastrointestinal tract creates an abnormal passage from inner anus or rectum out to skin surrounding anus.

 

Usually originates from a local abscess.

 

The red, raised tract opening may drain serosanguineous or purulent matter when pressure is applied.

 

Bi-digital palpation may reveal an indurated cord.

Term
fissure
Definition

A painful longitudinal tear in the superficial mucosa at the anal margin.

 

Most fissures (>90%) occur in the posterior midline area.

 

They are frequently accompanied by a papule of hyperplastic skin, called a sentinel tag,

 

on the anal margin below.

 

Fissures often result from trauma (e.g., passing a large, hard stool) or from irritant diarrheal stools.

 

The person has itching, bleeding, and exquisite pain.

 

 A resulting spasm in the sphincters makes the area painful to examine;

 

local anesthesia may be indicated.

Term
hemorrhoids
Definition

These painless, flabby papules are due to a varicose vein of the hemorrhoidal plexus.

 

An external hemorrhoid originates below the anorectal junction and is covered by anal skin.

 

When thrombosed, it contains clotted blood and becomes a painful, swollen, shiny blue mass that itches and bleeds with defecation.

 

When it resolves, it leaves a painless, flabby skin sac around the anal orifice.

 

An internal hemorrhoid originates above the anorectal junction and is covered by mucous membrane.

 

When the person performs a Valsalva maneuver, it may appear as a red mucosal mass.

 

It is not palpable.

 

All hemorrhoids result from increased portal venous pressure, as occurs with straining at stool,

chronic constipation,

pregnancy,

obesity,

 chronic liver disease,

or the low-fiber diet common in Western society.

Term
rectal prolapse
Definition

The rectal mucous membrane protrudes through the anus, appearing as a moist red donut with radiating lines.

 

When prolapse is incomplete, only the mucosa bulges.

 

When complete, it includes the anal sphincters.

 

Occurs following a Valsalva maneuver, such as straining at stool, or with exercise.

Term
pruitis ani
Definition

The rectal mucous membrane protrudes through the anus, appearing as a moist red donut with radiating lines.

 

When prolapse is incomplete, only the mucosa bulges.

 

When complete, it includes the anal sphincters.

 

Occurs following a Valsalva maneuver, such as straining at stool, or with exercise.

Term

absess

 

Definition

A localized cavity of pus from infection in a pararectal space.

 

Infection usually extends from an anal crypt.

 

 Characterized by persistent throbbing rectal pain.

 

Termed by the space it occupies (e.g., a perianal abscess is superficial around the anal skin)

 

and appears red, hot, swollen, indurated, and tender.

 

An ischiorectal abscess is deep and tender to bi-digital palpation.

 

It occurs laterally between the anus and ischial tuberosity and is uncommon.

Term
rectal polyp
Definition

A protruding growth from the rectal mucous membrane that is fairly common.

 

The polyp may be pedunculated (on a stalk) or sessile

 

(a mound on the surface, close to the mucosal wall).

 

The soft nodule is difficult to palpate.

 

Proctoscopy is needed as well as biopsy to screen for a malignant growth.

Term
fecal impaction
Definition

A collection of hard, desiccated feces in the rectum.

 

The obstruction often results from decreased bowel motility, in which more water is reabsorbed from the stool.

 

Also occurs with retained barium from gastrointestinal x-ray examination.

 

The person may complain of constipation or of diarrhea as a fecal stream passes around the impaction.

Term
carcinoma
Definition

A collection of hard, desiccated feces in the rectum.

 

 The obstruction often results from decreased bowel motility,

 

in which more water is reabsorbed from the stool.

 

Also occurs with retained barium from gastrointestinal x-ray examination.

 

The person may complain of constipation or of diarrhea as a fecal stream passes around the impaction.

Term
benign prostatic hypertrophy
Definition

S: Urinary frequency,

urgency,

hesitancy,

straining to urinate,

weak stream,

intermittent stream,

sensation of incomplete emptying,

nocturia.

 

O: A symmetric nontender enlargement,

 

commonly occurs in males beginning in the middle years.

 

The prostate surface feels

 

smooth,

 rubbery,

or firm

 

(like the consistency of the nose),

 

with the median sulcus obliterated.

Term
prostatitis
Definition

S: Fever,

chills,

malaise,

 urinary frequency and urgency,

 dysuria,

urethral discharge;

 

dull, aching pain

in perineal and rectal area.

 

O: An exquisitely tender enlargement is acute inflammation of the prostate gland yielding a swollen,

 

slightly asymmetric gland that is quite tender to palpation.

 

With a chronic inflammation,

 

the signs can vary from tender enlargement with a boggy feel

 

to isolated firm areas due to fibrosis.

 

Or the gland may feel normal.

Term
carcinoma
Definition

S: Frequency,

nocturia,

hematuria,

weak stream,

hesitancy,

pain or burning on urination;

 

continuous pain in

lower back,

pelvis,

thighs.

 

O: A malignant neoplasm often starts as a single hard nodule on the posterior surface,

 

 producing asymmetry and a change in consistency.

 

As it invades normal tissue,

 

multiple hard nodules appear,

 

or the entire gland feels stone-hard and fixed.

 

The median sulcus is obliterated.

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