Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

The most effective bowel retraining program is one in which bowel movements are consistently scheduled:

1. Every hour

2. 15-30 minutes after a meal

3. Twice a day

4. Once a week

The correct answer is: 15-30 minutes after a meal

A bowel retraining program is designed to establish a regular pattern for bowel movements, which can be especially important for individuals who experience issues such as incontinence or irregular bowel habits. The most effective time to schedule these bowel movements is typically 15-30 minutes after a meal. This is due to the gastrocolic reflex, which is a natural physiological response that prompts the colon to contract and move its contents in reaction to food entering the stomach. Scheduling bowel movements during this window takes advantage of this reflex, which can help promote consistency and facilitate better outcomes for the individual. Scheduling bowel movements every hour may lead to unnecessary stress and discomfort, potentially resulting in a negative experience with bowel training. Scheduling them twice a day could be effective for some, but it may not provide the optimal timing to maximize the body's natural signals. Once a week is infrequent and unlikely to establish a reliable pattern, making it ineffective for retraining the bowel. Therefore, aligning the bowel retraining schedule to occur shortly after meals is the most advantageous approach for fostering consistency and effectiveness in bowel management.