RN Exam Practice
Pharmacological and Parenteral TherapiesQuestion 546 of 2368

A client who has used laxatives now has absent bowel sounds, worsening abdominal distension, and increasing abdominal pain. What should the nurse do first?

  1. Give another laxative dose
  2. Encourage fluids and fiber
  3. Reassess in the next shift
  4. Notify the provider immediately
Show answer

Correct answer: Notify the provider immediately

These findings may indicate paralytic ileus or blockage, which needs immediate provider notification.

Source: Nursing Pharmacology, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Gastrointestinal System: Applying the Nursing Process to Administering Laxatives. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026