The nursing assistant is caring for a resident with dementia after the nurse administers the laxative suppository. After using the bedside commode, the resident has a greasy, clay-colored stool and abdominal cramping. What is the appropriate action for the nursing assistant to take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clay-colored stool and abdominal cramping should be reported to the nurse right away because these could signal a serious problem with the biliary tract or pancreas. The laxative suppository will not cause this type of stool when dissolving. The client has dementia so will not be able to report reliably what a normal bowel movement is like. It is never normal to have abdominal cramping. Without an order from the prescriber and permission from the nurse, a stool sample should not be collected and sent to the lab. The nursing assistant should leave the stool for the nurse to observe.

The Nursing Assistant Is Caring for a Resident with Dementia