Question

A nurse is speaking on the phone to a client on the phone who is pregnant and taking iron supplements for iron-deficiency anemia. The client reports that her stools are black but she has no abdominal pain or cramping. Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?

A. "Come to the office and we will check things out.
Rationale: The client's manifestations do not indicate the client should be seen by the provider.
B."Go to the emergency room and your provider will meet you there."
Rationale: The client's manifestations do not indicate the client should be seen by the provider.
C. "This is expected because of the way iron is broken down during digestion.
Rationale: Iron supplements turn a client's stools black. In the absence of cramping and abdominal pain, this is an expected finding. The client should be instructed to expect black stools.
D. "What else have you been eating?"
Rationale: The client's manifestations do not indicate that a food could have caused the black stools.

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the client that black stools are a common side effect of iron supplements due to the way iron is processed in the digestive system and it's not usually a concern in the absence of other symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's appropriate response to a pregnant client reporting black stools while taking iron supplements would be: "This is expected because of the way iron is broken down during digestion. Iron supplements turn a client's stools black. In the absence of cramping and abdominal pain, this is an expected finding. The client should be instructed to expect black stools." This response reassures the client that black stools are a common side effect of iron supplementation, and unless accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain or cramping, it is usually not a cause for concern. Iron supplements are known to cause darkened stools due to the way iron is processed in the digestive system. It is important for clients to be aware of this so that they do not become unnecessarily alarmed.