The nurse is devising a plan of care for a patient with the nursing diagnosis of Constipation related to opioid use. Which outcome will the nurse evaluate as successful for the patient to establish normal defecation?
A) The patient reports eliminating a soft, formed stool.
B) The patient has quit taking opioid pain medication.
C) The patient's lower left quadrant is tender to the touch.
D) The nurse hears bowel sounds in all four quadrants.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse's goal is for the patient to take opioid medication and to have normal bowel elimination. Normal stools are soft and formed. Ceasing pain medication is not a desired outcome for the patient. Tenderness in the left lower quadrant indicates constipation and does not indicate success. Bowel sounds indicate that the bowels are moving; however, they are not an indication of defecation.

The Nurse Is Devising a Plan of Care for a Patient