A nursing procedure carried out to help in the evacuation of bowel by administration of large amounts of fluid through the rectum is called:

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

Explanation

An enema is the instillation of a solution into the rectum and sigmoid colon.
The primary purpose is to promote defecation by stimulating peristalsis.
The volume of fluid breaks up the fecal mass, stretches the rectal wall, and initiates the defecation reflex.
Enemas are used to relieve constipation, empty the bowel before diagnostic tests or surgery, or as part of a bowel training program.

Option A: NG (Nasogastric) aspiration involves inserting a tube through the nose into the stomach to remove gastric contents, not administering fluid into the rectum for bowel evacuation.
Option B: Colonoscopy is a diagnostic or screening procedure that uses a scope to visualize the inside of the colon. While bowel cleansing (often with enemas or oral solutions) is required beforehand, the colonoscopy itself is not the act of evacuation.
Option C: An ostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an artificial opening (stoma) on the abdomen to divert stool or urine. It is a long-term management strategy, not a procedure to induce a bowel movement.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Bowel Elimination Procedures helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses must administer enemas correctly to prevent injury, such as perforation of the rectal wall. Using the correct patient positioning (left Sims' position) and lubricating the tube tip are critical safety measures.
Monitoring the patient's response is essential. The vagus nerve can be stimulated during enema administration, potentially causing a sudden drop in heart rate (bradycardia). The nurse should be prepared to stop the procedure if the patient reports dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea.
Patient education is a key nursing role. The nurse should explain the procedure, the reason for it, and what the patient can expect to feel, which helps reduce anxiety and improve cooperation.

How to Approach the Question

First, break down the question stem to identify the key actions and location: 1) administration of fluid, 2) large amounts, 3) into the rectum, 4) for bowel evacuation.
Next, evaluate each option against these four key points.
NG aspiration involves the stomach and nose, not the rectum, so it's incorrect.
Colonoscopy is a visual exam, not a fluid administration for evacuation, so it's incorrect.
Ostomy is a surgical opening, not a procedure for fluid administration into the rectum, so it's incorrect.
Enema perfectly matches the definition of introducing fluid into the rectum to cause a bowel movement.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Bowel Elimination Procedures
Stem keywords: nursing procedure, evacuation of bowel, administration of large amounts of fluid, through the rectum
Lead-in keywords: is called
Negative lead-in flag: false

QG5KWUtaxmooABcIWY4B14

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 6 pp. 39-41, 42-44

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 627-629

Practise the full BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.