69.On the third postoperative day following thoracic surgery, a client
reports feeling constipated. Which intervention should the nurse
implement to promote bowel elimination?
A. Remind the client to turn every two hours while lying in bed.
B. Provide warm prune juice before the client goes to bed at night.
C. Teach the client to splint the incision while walking to the bathroom.
D. Administer an analgesic before the client attempts to defecate.
Prune juice is a natural laxative that stimulates peristalsis, and warming
the prune juice (B) facilitates peristalsis. (A) is also helpful in
promoting peristalsis but is less likely to relieve the client's
constipation. (C) reduces discomfort during ambulation, but will not
help relieve the client's constipation. Defecation is not painful
following most surgeries, and many analgesics used postoperatively
reports feeling constipated. Which intervention should the nurse
implement to promote bowel elimination?
A. Remind the client to turn every two hours while lying in bed.
B. Provide warm prune juice before the client goes to bed at night.
C. Teach the client to splint the incision while walking to the bathroom.
D. Administer an analgesic before the client attempts to defecate.
Prune juice is a natural laxative that stimulates peristalsis, and warming
the prune juice (B) facilitates peristalsis. (A) is also helpful in
promoting peristalsis but is less likely to relieve the client's
constipation. (C) reduces discomfort during ambulation, but will not
help relieve the client's constipation. Defecation is not painful
following most surgeries, and many analgesics used postoperatively
