Bowel Elimination in Nursing Care

A condition where stool becomes hard and stuck in the rectum or colon, often resisting laxative or enema treatment.

Opioids decrease bowel motility, leading to constipation.

Increasing fluid intake and dietary changes, along with medications, are common methods of treating constipation.

Age, fluid intake, pain, diet, medications (laxatives/cathartics), and mobility all impact bowel movements.

Frequent, loose, watery bowel movements.

The average amount of urine produced per hour is typically around 60ml.

Less than 30 ml/hour of urine output may indicate a problem with blood flow to the kidneys.

A daily urine output less than 400ml.

Types of incontinence include Stress, Urge, Overflow, Functional.

Inability to fully empty the bladder.

Focuses on preventing dehydration and electrolyte imbalance (especially potassium).

Inflamed blood vessels in the rectum, often causing bright red bleeding.

An artificial opening created in the abdomen for stool or urine drainage.

Stool consistency from a small intestine ostomy is liquid, requiring hydration.

Safest type of enema as it doesn't cause fluid shifts.

Enema that can cause fluid overload and shouldn't be used in renal patients.

Infection of the urinary tract, often producing symptoms like dysuria (painful urination), frequency, and cloudy urine.

Symptoms beyond the urinary tract, including flank pain, fever, confusion and nausea/vomiting.

A test that screens urine for various conditions, including UTI, kidney disease, and dehydration.

Use the clock method for food placement, ensure adequate lighting and photos, provide audio tapes if necessary, and maintain clear pathways.

Create a quiet environment, maintain eye contact, and ensure hearing aids are charged.

Perform regular skin assessments, adjust bath water temperature for comfort, and limit ice packs to 30 minutes.

Provide oral care, flavorful foods using salt-free alternatives, and incorporate spices to enhance taste.

Nearsightedness, difficulty seeing distant objects.

Farsightedness, difficulty seeing close-up objects.

Clouding of the eye's lens, causing blurry vision.

Increased pressure in the eye damaging the optic nerve, leading to peripheral vision loss and possible blindness.

Damage to sensory nerve fibers in the arms and legs, often causing numbness, tingling, or pain.

Complete loss of smell.

Age-related hearing loss, usually affecting high-pitched sounds.

Progressive hearing loss causing vertigo (dizziness) and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

A sudden change in mental state, often caused by a medical condition like a UTI or dehydration.

A progressive decline in brain function, causing memory loss and cognitive impairment.

A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and changes in sleep and appetite.

Over stimulation of the senses, leading to feelings of stress and anxiety.

Patients with COPD need supplemental oxygen, but it's important to wean them off as much as possible. Nasal cannula can be used, but avoid high flow rates.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) can cause edema throughout the body. One hallmark sign is thin, pink, frothy sputum.

Isotonic IV fluids have the same concentration as blood, so they don't cause fluid shifts. Examples include Lactated Ringer's (LR), D5W, and Normal Saline (0.9%).

Hypertonic IV solutions have a higher concentration than blood, drawing fluid from the cells into the bloodstream. One example is D10W.

Fluid volume excess is when the body has too much fluid, often seen in conditions like CHF. Management involves diuretics, fluid restriction, daily weight monitoring, and hypertonic solutions.

Fluid volume deficit occurs when the body loses too much fluid, often due to diarrhea, vomiting, or sweating. It's treated with isotonic IV fluids and addressing the underlying cause.

Hyponatremia (low sodium) can be caused by fluid overload. Treatment includes giving water to dilute electrolytes and, if needed, administering 0.45% NaCl IV fluid.

A venous stasis ulcer occurs due to poor blood circulation in the veins, often causing edema, brownish discoloration, and ulcers in the lower legs.