The nursing assistant is caring for a client after surgery who has received pain medications for several days. The nursing assistant helps the client to use a bedpan for a bowel movement (BM) and observes liquid stool seeping from the anus. The nursing assistant cleans the client and changes the incontinence pad. What action should the nursing assistant take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nursing assistant observes the signs of an impaction, which include liquid stool seeping from the anus and no BM. The nursing assistant should report this to the nurse so the nurse may provide measures to remove the impaction. Charting that it is incontinence of stool and providing pericare will allow the impaction to worsen. Applying an incontinence brief will increase the risk for skin breakdown. Providing more fluids will increase the liquid stool and abdominal bloating because the bowel is blocked with hard stool.

The Nursing Assistant Is Caring for a Client After Surgery