Question

A resident of a long-term care facility has required repeated administration of stool softeners and laxatives to treat recurrent constipation. recently, it was identified that the patient had become impacted, but a residential care aide has documented that this problem resolved because the patient had several watery bowel movements over the past 24 hours. what principle should guide the nurse's subsequent care?

Answer 1

If a residential care aide has documented that this problem resolved because the patient had several watery bowel movements over the past 24 hours with a history of being impacted. They might assume the resident is still impacted. They might also palpate the abdomen for tenderness and rigidness.