Fundamentals of Nursing- Bowel Elimination Study Set -Questions and Detailed Answers

Factors affecting bowel elimination - age - fluid intake - psychological factors - position during defecation - pregnancy - medications, laxatives, and cathartics - diet - physical activity - personal habits - pain - surgery and anesthesia - diagnostic tests Assessment of Bowel Elimination -Usual elimination pattern -Stool characteristics -Routines that promote elimination -Hx of bowel surgeries -Family hx of GI issues -Changes in appetitie -Diet hx -fluid intake -Medication history -Pain? -Injury? Common Bowel Elimination Problems constipation, impaction, diarrhea, incontinence, flatulence, hemorrhoids Constipation Decrease in frequency or difficulty in passing stool -less than 3 a week -difficulty is starting or completing bowel movement -passing hard stool after prolonged straining Constipation Signs and Symptoms -Abdominal pain/ bloatin -Excess of/ or inability to pass gas -Nausea/loss of appetite -headache