Question

A nurse is caring for a client who will perform fecal occult blood testing at home. What information should the nurse include when explaining the procedure to the client?

1) The client should collect a small sample of stool and place it in a container provided by the healthcare provider.
2) The client should avoid eating red meat and certain medications for 3 days prior to the test.
3) The client should follow the instructions provided by the healthcare provider for collecting the sample.
4) The client should send the sample to a laboratory for analysis.

Answer 1

When explaining fecal occult blood testing, the nurse should inform the client about collecting a stool sample, following instructions, avoiding certain substances, and sending the sample to a laboratory.

Step-by-step explanation:

When explaining the procedure of fecal occult blood testing to the client, the nurse should include the following information:

1. The client should collect a small sample of stool and place it in a container provided by the healthcare provider.
2. The client should follow the healthcare provider's instructions for collecting the sample.
3. The client should avoid eating red meat and certain medications for 3 days prior to the test.
4. The client should send the sample to a laboratory for analysis.

Fecal occult blood testing is used to detect the presence of blood in the stool, which can be an indication of various medical conditions, including colorectal cancer. By providing accurate and detailed instructions, the nurse can ensure that the client performs the test correctly and obtains reliable results.