Question

student nurse has been caring for a patient who has been on bed rest for the past 10 days in skeletal traction as a result of an auto accident. The patient began eating solid food 2 days after surgery and has not had a bowel movement since he was hospitalized. His abdomen is firm and distended with occasional distant bowel sounds. The laxative he received last night and the Fleet enema this morning yielded only a small amount of liquid stool. The student nurse administered an oil-retention enema and notified the primary nurse that there were no results. The primary nurse says she will need the student nurse’s assistance to remove the fecal impaction in approximately 30 minutes and to notify the patient. The student nurse asks if she can perform the procedure herself. How should the primary nurse respond to the student nurse’s request?

Answer 1

The primary nurse refuses the stundent nurse to do alone ,because removal of fecal impaction needs the skill.

It is an invasive procedure and performed only after a full assessment.

As the student nurse asks the patient, she feels happy but she doesn't agree.

Faecal impaction :

​​​​​Hardened stool that is struck in rectum or lower colon due to chronic constipation.

Treatment:

The nurse position the patient on his or her side with kness flexed and back towards the nurse.

A water proof pad is placed under the patient's buttocks and a bed pan to hold any removed stool.

The nurse then puts a rubber glouse and puts a lubricant to index finger that will be inserted to break the impaction.