Question

A female client 89 years of age has been admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of failure to thrive. She has become constipated in recent days, in spite of maintaining a high fluid intake and taking oral stool softeners. She admits to her nurse that the problem is rooted in the fact that she feels mortified to attempt a bowel movement on a commode at her bedside where staff and other clients can hear her. The nurse should respond by modifying which of the following resources?

Answer 1

The nurse should modify environmental factors that ensure privacy and comfort for the client when using the commode. Ensuring the patient's psychological well-being and implementing dietary and lifestyle adjustments to address constipation are also crucial.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should consider modifying environmental factors that can provide more privacy and comfort when the client is using the commode. Options include providing a privacy screen or curtain, scheduling bowel movements for less busy times, or finding a more private location for the commode. It is important to address the client's emotional well-being alongside the physical aspect of constipation. Since psychological distress can negatively impact the natural processes of elimination, making the client feel more comfortable and less embarrassed is critical for promoting regular bowel movements and improving the overall condition of failure to thrive.

Additionally, the nurse may engage in more personalized care planning, which could include relaxation techniques before attempting a bowel movement, ensuring the client continues with a high fluid intake, and dietary adjustments to include foods high in fibre to aid digestion.