RN Exam Practice
Physiological AdaptationQuestion 1219 of 2368

The nurse assesses the abdomen of a child with chronic functional constipation. Which finding does the nurse expect?

  1. Decreased bowel sounds and abdominal distention
  2. Hyperactive bowel sounds and a sunken abdomen
  3. Absent femoral pulses and a bulging fontanel
  4. High-pitched bowel sounds with a flat abdomen
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Correct answer: Decreased bowel sounds and abdominal distention

Bowel sounds are often decreased in constipation, and distention is common when constipation is chronic.

Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Other Childhood Disorders: Implementation (Take Action). Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Physiological Adaptation"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026