Diarrhea – Treatment

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BRAT

B-Banana

R-Rice

A-Apple

T-Toast

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The BRAT diet is a bland diet that is low in protein, fiber, and fat. It is thought to be easy on the GI tract and helpful to lesson diarrhea. It is not used commonly anymore because of the lack of protein in the diet.

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Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Constipation / Encopresis

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5 Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Constipation / Encopresis NCLEX Questions

Question 1 of 5

The nurse caring for a six-year-old with constipation knows that which of the following causes of constipation is most common in children?

Hyperthyroidism

Idiopathic

Rotavirus

Hypercalcemia

Question 2 of 5

The nurse is educating a group of parents on the nutritional needs of toddlers. Which of the following foods should the nurse recommend to help prevent constipation? Select all that apply.

Whole grains

Cheese

Milk

Dried fruit

Beans

Question 3 of 5

The nurse is caring for a five-year-old with constipation. This child has been prescribed the laxative polyethylene glycol 3350 to help manage the constipation. Which of the following should the nurse include when educating the parents about proper administration of this medication?

“It should be administered immediately following meals”

“It can be mixed with your child’s beverage of choice”

“It should only be mixed with water”

“It should be administered immediately before meals”

Question 4 of 5

The nurse is caring for a three-year-old with idiopathic (functional) constipation. Which of the following symptoms indicate the need for further investigation of the reason for the constipation? Select all that apply.

Increase in appetite

Blood-streaked stool

Growth failure

Ribbon-like stools

Abdominal distension

Question 5 of 5

A client reports that they haven’t had a bowel movement in three days. The nurse should promote which of the following to help the client with gastrointestinal peristalsis? Select all that apply.

Abdominal massage

Docusate sodium

Increased fluid intake

Ambulation

Semi-private bathroom access

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Score an 80% or better on these Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Constipation / Encopresis questions to master this lesson.

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Pediatric Gastrointestinal Dysfunction – Diarrhea

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10 Pediatric Gastrointestinal Dysfunction- Diarrhea [NextGen] NCLEX Questions

Question 1 of 10

EHR for Patient

Open

Patient Description Nurses Notes History and Physical Orders

This 2-year-old toddler was brought to the pediatric emergency department

1800

Nursing Assessment:

Temperature: 98.3ºF (36.8ºC)
Heart rate: 156 beats/min
Respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min
Capillary refill approximately 3 to 4 seconds
Buccal mucosa dry
Eyes sunken
Reduced skin turgor
Patient is crying and resisting examination

This 2-year-old toddler was brought to the pediatric emergency department this evening by her parents. Parents report a 5-day history of diarrhea and estimate the child has had six to eight episodes of watery diarrhea and only two wet diapers today. Patient has a decreased appetite, but has been drinking well, including milk, water, and juice. Two other household members had diarrheal illnesses last week. There is no report of vomiting, fever, or recent changes to the diet.

1845:

Monitor vital signs every 2 hours
Assess perineal skin every 2 hours; keep clean and dry
Begin oral rehydration therapy per protocol
Assess stool losses and begin replacement therapy per protocol
Advance to regular diet as tolerated

The patient tolerated the 100 mL/kg of oral rehydration solution over the past 4 hours. Her vital signs are normal, and she is much improved. The nurse plans health teaching for the patient and her family in preparation for discharge.

For each health teaching point, click to indicate whether it is Indicated (appropriate or necessary), Contraindicated (could be harmful), or Non-Essential (makes no difference or not necessary) for this patient at the time of discharge.

Health Teaching

Indicated

Contraindicated

Non-essential

“Once she finishes rehydrating, Emilia can switch to 50% water/50% juice.”

“Count her wet diapers to monitor for dehydration.”

“Continue to give 10mL/kg of oral rehydration solution for every episode of diarrhea.”

“You can offer Emilia her regular diet now.”

“Emilia should avoid milk until the diarrhea is resolved.”

“When she is ready to eat, Emilia should start with the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.”

“Emilia should stay on oral rehydration solution for the next 24 hours.”

Question 2 of 10

EHR for Patient

Open

Patient Description Nurses Notes History and Physical

This 2-year-old toddler was brought to the pediatric emergency department

1800

Nursing Assessment:

Temperature: 98.3ºF (36.8ºC)
Heart rate: 156 beats/min
Respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min
Capillary refill approximately 3 to 4 seconds
Buccal mucosa dry
Eyes sunken
Reduced skin turgor
Patient is crying and resisting examination

Which 4 care needs would the nurse prioritize for this patient? Select 4

You must select 4 answers

Diagnostic testing to determine infectious cause of diarrhea

Intravenous fluid rehydration

Reintroduction of normal diet

Maintenance of skin integrity

Monitoring vital signs

Maintenance fluid therapy

Replacement therapy for stool losses

Oral rehydration therapy

Question 3 of 10

The nurse caring for a dehydrated six-year-old with diarrhea knows which of the following viruses is a common cause of childhood diarrhea?

Parvovirus

Rotavirus

Cytomegalovirus

Adenovirus

Question 4 of 10

The nurse is assessing a client and knows that which of the following findings are common with cholera infection? Select all that apply.

Grey stools

Rice-watery stools

Pitting edema

Black tarry stools

Wrinkled hands

Question 5 of 10

EHR for Patient

Open

Patient Description Nurses Notes History and Physical Orders

This 2-year-old toddler was brought to the pediatric emergency department

1800

Nursing Assessment:

Temperature: 98.3ºF (36.8ºC)
Heart rate: 156 beats/min
Respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min
Capillary refill approximately 3 to 4 seconds
Buccal mucosa dry
Eyes sunken
Reduced skin turgor
Patient is crying and resisting examination

1845:

Monitor vital signs every 2 hours
Assess perineal skin every 2 hours; keep clean and dry
Begin oral rehydration therapy per protocol
Assess stool losses and begin replacement therapy per protocol
Advance to regular diet as tolerated

The nurse completes a final patient assessment prior to discharge to home with her parents.

For each Assessment Finding, click to indicate whether nursing and collaborative interventions were Effective (helped to meet expected outcomes), Ineffective (did not help to meet expected outcomes), or Unrelated (not related to the expected outcomes).

Assessment Finding

Effective

Ineffective

Unrelated

Brisk capillary refill (<2 seconds)

Tolerating normal diet

Gingival inflammation and irritation

Perianal erythema and excoriation

Heart rate of 120 beats/min

Clear rhinorrhea

Question 6 of 10

The nurse caring for a 15-year-old with Crohn’s disease knows which of the following are clinical manifestations of this disease? Select all that apply.

Weight loss

Perianal lesions

Rectal bleeding

Growth restriction

Mouth sores

Question 7 of 10

The nursing is providing care to a five-year-old who is mildly dehydrated after 48 hours of acute diarrhea. The nurse knows which of the following to be true regarding therapeutic management?

The child should be started on the B.R.A.T. diet as soon as possible

Oral rehydration is the preferred method of rehydrating

The child needs to be NPO until the diarrhea resolves

Antimotility drugs should be started immediately

Question 8 of 10

EHR for Patient

Open

Patient Description History and Physical

This 2-year-old toddler was brought to the pediatric emergency department

click to show possible answer options

click to hide possible answer options

Click to highlight the assessment findings that require follow-up by the nurse:

Temperature: 98.3ºF (36.8ºC)
Heart rate: 156 beats/min
Respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min
Capillary refill approximately 3 to 4 seconds
Buccal mucosa dry
Eyes sunken
Reduced skin turgor
Patient is crying and resisting examination

Question 9 of 10

A client has diarrhea. What should the nurse expect when auscultating the abdomen?

Hypoactive bowel sounds

High-pitched bowel sounds

Absent bowel sounds

Hyperactive bowel sounds

Question 10 of 10

EHR for Patient

Open

Patient Description Nurses Notes History and Physical

This 2-year-old toddler was brought to the pediatric emergency department

1800

Nursing Assessment:

Temperature: 98.3ºF (36.8ºC)
Heart rate: 156 beats/min
Respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min
Capillary refill approximately 3 to 4 seconds
Buccal mucosa dry
Eyes sunken
Reduced skin turgor
Patient is crying and resisting examination

Based on the patient’s medical history and assessment data, the nurse’s hypothesis is that the cause of the patient’s diarrhea is , which has caused dehydration.

Select the word from each drop-down to complete the sentence.

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Score an 80% or better on these Pediatric Gastrointestinal Dysfunction- Diarrhea [NextGen] questions to master this lesson.

Diarrhea – Treatment

BRAT

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