Picture this . . .
Your patient is complaining of painful flatulence. You know that you can help your patient by instructing them to:
What is avoid foods that trigger flatulence, encourage ambulation/exercise, maintain normal bowel habits?
The bowel should be assessed in this order
What is inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation?
An enema has been ordered on your patient. You know that your patient must be placed:
What is in a left side-lying with right knee up/Sim's position?
A diet designed to reduce stool volume.
What is a low-residue diet?
Your patient states that they use a laxative daily. You know that this may cause:
What is reliance on medication for bowel elimination and constipation?
You suspect your patient has a fecal impaction. On assessment, you would expect to notice the following:
What is abdominal pain/tenderness, loss of appetite, c/o rectal pressure, indigestion, abdominal distention, hypoactive bowel sounds, inability to defecate, liquid stool, vomiting, increased HR, dehydration, fever, agitation, confusion, urinary incontinence, digital presence of stool?
Rectal tubes are used for patients with what medical conditions?
What is uncontrollable diarrhea or patients who are unconscious?
Swollen Tortured Veins in the rectal area
What are hemorrhoids?
You are teaching a patient about their new ileostomy. Recommended patient teaching points that the nurse would stress are
What is an adequate fluid intake, avoid high fiber foods, stoma should be beefy red, the site should be clean and moist, dark-green leafy veggies and yogurt to deodorize feces.
Your patient has a colostomy. You expect the stoma to appear:
What is moist and beefy red?
You know that an ostomy pouch should be changed this often
What is every 3-5 days or as needed?
Feces are placed in a growth medium for bacterial analysis
What is a stool culture?
Your patient requires a bowel training program. You know that this includes:
What is including patient/caregiver in planning, set designated time for defecation, provide privacy, add fiber if needed for constipation, increase fluid intake if possible?
Your patient has absent or hypoactive bowel sounds. You know that this may indicate:
What is constipation, fecal impaction, paralytic ileus, bowel blockage?
While administering an enema, your patient becomes lightheaded. You know that you should:
What is stop the enema solution and allow patient's condition to normalize? Then, allow the solution to flow slowly.
The liver is located in this quadrant
What is the right upper quadrant?
Your patient asks what factors may affect bowel elimination. You know this may include:
What is developmental stage, sociocultural factors, nutrition/hydration, activity level, medications, surgeries/procedures, pregnancy, and pathological conditions?
Your patient has hyperactive bowel sounds. You know this often indicates:
What is diarrhea?
Your patient has a fecal impaction. You know that you may need to:
What is digitally remove/break up stool?
Patients taking several enemas are at risk for
What is dehydration or electrolyte disorders?