Question

The client states, "No one will let me eat or drink anything until after my test and it's been 9 hours since I last ate anything!" While auscultating the client's abdomen the nurse hears frequent bowel sounds. How will the nurse document this finding in the medical record?

1) Borborygmi present.
2) Hypoactive bowel sounds present.
3) Bruit present.
4) Friction rub present.

Answer 1

The nurse will document the frequent bowel sounds heard upon auscultating the client's abdomen as 'Borborygmi present' in the medical record, as this term accurately describes the rumbling noises made by the movement in the intestines.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is regarding how the nurse should document the findings of an abdominal examination in the medical record. When a nurse hears frequent bowel sounds, this is often indicative of active bowel motility. Given the options presented, the most appropriate way to document this finding would be Borborygmi present, which refers to the rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines. The other options, such as hypoactive bowel sounds, bruit, and friction rub, do not accurately describe frequent bowel sounds. Hypoactive bowel sounds suggest decreased intestinal activity, a bruit is a whooshing sound heard over a blood vessel typically suggestive of narrowed artery, and a friction rub is associated with inflammation of the peritoneal surface which is not relevant here.