Ch. 39 (Bowel Elimination) Flashcards
If somebody is having diarrhea, what normally would we recommend them diet wise?
- BRAT: bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast
- hydration
Black tarry stools could be a sign of what?
internal bleeding in the GI tract (or just from iron supplement)
What is the sequence for an abdominal assessment?
- inspection
- auscultation
- percussion
- palpation
3 and 4 can be switched
When is the best time to perform a physical assessment of the anus and rectum?
during ADLs/perineal care
What laboratory test for stool can Vitaminc C effect the results?
fecal occult blood test
detects blood in the stool
During stool collection, do we use medical aseptic technique or sterile technique?
medical aseptic technique
Mass peristalsis occurs when?
1 hour after eating
What medications prescribed after surgery can cause constipation?
opioids
For bed pan use, what position do you want the patients to be put in?
elevate head 30-45 degrees
never lift patient on bed pan, just try to get them to roll onto it
What are the different types of fluids given with enemas?
- normal saline (safest)
- warm tap water
- hypertonic solutions (fleets)
- soapsuds
If a patient is cramping during an enema, what nursing intervention do you perform?
- lower bag position (gravity is less intense - fluid is moving slower in)
If a patient is diaphoretic, dizzy or nauseous, during an enema, what nursing intervention do you perform?
stop enema
What position do you place the patient in during an enema?
sims position
laying on left, on stomach, right leg lifted
What is usually the goal when it comes to bowel-training and regular bowel habits?
eliminate a soft, formed stool at regular intervals w/o laxatives
What are temporary or permanent openings that are surgically created in the abdominal wall to allow fecal matter to pass?
stomas
What type of bowel diversion has a stoma located at the end of the colon?
colostomy
more solid fecal matter
What type of bowel diversion has a stoma located at the end of the ileum (small intestine)?
ileostomy
more liquid fecal matter
How do you clean ostomies?
mild soap & water to skin, dry gently
If an ostomy bag has a big opening, bigger than the stoma itself, what are the concerns?
skin irritation & breakdown (gastric juices, fecal matter)
What do we recommend to patients with constipation?
what do we recommend to patients?
- increase fiber, hydration, & exercise
- avoid opioids
