ProcessIntermediate
How should a nurse assess a patient experiencing diarrhoea based on the guidelines provided in the chapter?
A nurse should assess a patient experiencing diarrhoea by checking hydration status, including skin turgor and mucous membranes, monitoring urine output and blood pressure, and examining the abdomen for distension and tenderness. Additionally, the nurse should characterize the onset, frequency, and intensity of the diarrhoea, collect and measure the resultant diarrhoea, and submit a faecal specimen for microbiology and culture if necessary.
Key points
- Assess hydration status: skin turgor, mucous membranes, urine output, blood pressure.
- Inspect and palpate the abdomen for distension and tenderness.
- Characterize the diarrhoea's onset, frequency, and intensity.
- Collect and measure the diarrhoea output.
- Submit faecal specimens for microbiology and culture if needed.
Source:Fundamentals of Pharmacology: An Applied Approach for Nursing and Health· Pharmacokinetic factors that modify drug action· p. 146–151
Fundamentals of Pharmacology: An Applied Approach for Nursing and Health
Alan Galbraith ... [et Al.].
Second Edition · Routledge