NCLEX PN Practice Tests Practice Question

An adult asks the nurse what could be causing him to have a black tongue and black stools. The following items are in the client's history. Which is most likely to be causing his symptoms?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can cause a black tongue and black stools due to its bismuth content, which reacts with sulfides in the gastrointestinal tract. This is a harmless side effect.

Option B, consuming beets and broccoli, can lead to reddish stools but not black, ruling it out as a cause.

Option C, iron tablets, may cause dark stools but typically do not affect the tongue's color.

Option D, a diet high in red meat, does not typically result in black stools or a black tongue, making it an unlikely cause.

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