Question

Clinical Assignment

You are caring for a 68-year-old male who has been hospitalized for extreme constipation. He is having bowel movements now, but he has had a poor diet that contributed to his constipation problems. His wife died 9 months ago. He eats mostly canned soups and processed lunch meats on white bread because he does not cook much. He sometimes gets fast food, such as hamburgers or fried chicken. He likes meat but does not eat vegetables or fruits. He tells you they go bad before he can eat them all, so they are a waste of money. He mostly drinks soft drinks throughout the day.

Critical Thinking Questions:

• How will you determine the effectiveness of the current treatment for constipation?
• What nutritional concerns do you have for this patient?
• How will you help him manage this issue?
• How will you help this patient prevent rehospitalization for constipation in the future?

Answer 1

constipation is the failure of voiding feces,which causes discomfort.

It is due to the lack of movements necessary for defecation. Due to the absence of mass movement of colon feces remain in the large intestine for a long time resulting in absorption of fluid. So the feces become hard and dry.

causes of constipation.

_ Dietary habits like low consumption of fibre rich diet.

_Use of trangulizers, anti cholinergics,anti depressants.

-Rectal and anal disorders

-use of opioid.

-weakness,immobility.

-fatigue.

-In ability to increase the intra abdominal pressure to facilitate passage of stool.

-Ignoring the urge to defecate.

-Lack of regular exercise.

-stress filled life .

The effectiveness of current treatment is determined by the presence of having bowel movements.

Nutritional concerns.

-Provide high fibre rich diet. Including fruits and vegetables in diet.

-Providing plenty of oral fluids.

- Provide small and frequent feeds if unable to take at a time.

- Include 6 _ 12 teaspoon full of unprocessed bran daily.

Provide high residue,high fibre rich diet.

How to help to manage the Issue?

Provide health education regarding diet,exercise etc

- Provide health education regarding including fruits and vegetables in diet

- Provide health education regarding need for intake of bran rich diet daily.

-Teach the client how to perform abdominal muscle strengthening exercises.

-Educate about the possible complications and its prevention.

-Educate about bowel habits training.

Explain the use of laxative.

-Expain need to avoid use of fast food.

How to help to prevent re hospitalibation for constipation in the future?

_Provide health education regarding

dietary habits like including high fibre rich diet.

Avoid fast foods.

-Take plenty of oral fluids .

-Perform exercise

-Avoid stress.

-Advise to use regular time for defecation.

- Include bran in diet.

-Use fruits and vegetables daily.

--perform routine exercise to strengthen abdominal muscle.

constipation is the failure of voiding feces. By providing fibre rich diet and exercise. it can avoided.