Insight on a question I do not agree with

Recent test had this question on it. I personally do not think that any of the responses are correct. Teacher says option C. What do you think . . . .Please back your response up with references.


A client says, "I drink so much water every day you'd think I would have diarrhea, not constipation!" An appropriate response for the nurse to make to this client is:

A. "You're obviously not drinking enough water!"

B. "You are dehydrated."

C. "Your body only absorbs about 1 liter of water a day."


D. "Are you sure you're drinking as much as you think you are?"
Seriously, references? A doesn't work, because it isn't obvious; other factors contribute to constipation besides just intakeB: can't say dehydrated without doing a physical assessment; looking at VS, mucus membranes etc.C: it's about a liter an hour, not a dayD: Clarifying an amount taken in daily is appropriate, but this is poorly phrased. Nonetheless, this is the type of response I'd have used, but more towards "how much water do you drink daily"

thanks JBUDD those are my thoughts EXACTLY!!!! She will not budge on this answer and is sticking to her thoughts that C is correct. I totally agree that the "idea" behind D is excellent. . . to clarify how much the client is actually drinking thereby determining if they are actually taking in an adequate amount. The question is not going to hurt my grade at all . . . and I don't normally argue points with instructors, but C is SO blatantly wrong that it really bothers me. Her response was "well its not like the patient will remember what you tell them anyway" . . .terrifying what we are being taught in nursing school!

I need to have you call my teacher!!! It just really bothers me that they are allowing nurses to stick so hard to the idea behind "therapeutic communication" that it doesn't even matter that we are telling our patients things that are absolutely medically inaccurate!

D. How much water is this person really drinking?

totally agree not a hat person . . . . I am just trying to get any sort of idea WHY in the world my teacher (and over 1/2 the class would have picked C). . . kinda scary!

A client says, "I drink so much water every day you'd think I would have diarrhea, not constipation!" An appropriate response for the nurse to make to this client is:A. "You're obviously not drinking enough water!"- Other reasons cause constipationB. "You are dehydrated." without labs/ other signs cannot say thisC. "Your body only absorbs about 1 liter of water a day."I would take this to mean that over 1 liter is going to be excreted by the kidneys and will not help with constipation. D. "Are you sure you're drinking as much as you think you are?"questions the client, not effective communication

Of those answers I would pick C. Sorry I agree with your teacher. Water is only going to help so much with constipation. Excessive water will not cause diarrhea, but will cause increased urination.

Quote from Mandychelle79A client says, "I drink so much water every day you'd think I would have diarrhea, not constipation!" An appropriate response for the nurse to make to this client is:A. "You're obviously not drinking enough water!"- Other reasons cause constipationB. "You are dehydrated." without labs/ other signs cannot say thisC. "Your body only absorbs about 1 liter of water a day."I would take this to mean that over 1 liter is going to be excreted by the kidneys and will not help with constipation. D. "Are you sure you're drinking as much as you think you are?"questions the client, not effective communication

I would have picked "D", but with the wording a little different. Definitely not "C" !!!

I can see your point Mandychelle79.

To Mandychelle79If increasing water intake will not help the constipation then why we recommended to increase water intake to relieve constipation, and why we use enema to help with constipation ????......Specially, Body does not "ABSORBS" 1 L per day, but it might "RETAIN" 1 L per day..........Because more than 1 L is going to absorb in only small intestine.....and more than that in the Large intestine.......

I would have to agree with Mandy and focus on therapeutic communication more than anything else. I would have picked C.