Bladder and Bowel Elimination
Bowel Elimination
Objectives:
Discuss the role of GI organs and their physiological function in
digestion and elimination.
Assess a patient’s elimination pattern.
Identify nursing interventions that promote normal elimination.
Describe nursing procedures related to bowel elimination.
Key Terms
Bowel training Cathartics Clostridium difficile Colonoscopy Colostomy Constipation
Fecal occult blood Fecal
Diarrhea Effluent Endoscopy Enemas immunochemical
test (FOBT)
test (FIT)
Flatulence Hemorrhoid Ileus Impaction Incontinence Laxatives
Peristalsis Polyps
Introduction
Regular elimination of bowel waste products is essential for normal
body functioning.
o Irregular or not eliminating there are interventions for that
Alterations are early signs problems in the gastrointestinal tract or
other body systems.
o Other body systems involved in elimination = bladder, sweat,
kidneys, liver, etc.
Supportive nursing care respects a patient's privacy and emotional
needs.
GI Tract
Mouth
o Chews food, enzymes
Esophagus
Stomach
, o Stores food and liquid, mixes food with digestive liquids, stores
chyme, regulates emptying of contents, hydrochloric acid &
pepsin
o Stomach mucosa lining protects it from acid
Small intestine
o Enzymes breaking food down, absorption
Large intestine
o Enzymes breaking food down, absorption
Anus
Defecation
Factors Influencing Bowel Elimination
Age
o Everything slows down as you age
o Infants have smaller stomach
Diet
o What you’re putting into your body = what comes out
o Need fiber
Fluid intake
o Inadequate = constipation
Physical activity
o Helps GI tract
Psychological factors
o Stress = constipation, diarrhea
Personal habits
o Always eliminating when you wake up, or at a certain time during
the day
Position during defecation
o “squatty potty”
o Sitting upright
Pain
o Uncomfortableness may cause constipation
o If being treated for pain, meds can cause constipation
Pregnancy
o Elimination is impacted by sharing nutrients with baby and
pressure on organs
o Chronic constipation risk
Surgery and anesthesia
o Anesthesia causes constipation
Medications
Diagnostic tests
Bowel Elimination
Objectives:
Discuss the role of GI organs and their physiological function in
digestion and elimination.
Assess a patient’s elimination pattern.
Identify nursing interventions that promote normal elimination.
Describe nursing procedures related to bowel elimination.
Key Terms
Bowel training Cathartics Clostridium difficile Colonoscopy Colostomy Constipation
Fecal occult blood Fecal
Diarrhea Effluent Endoscopy Enemas immunochemical
test (FOBT)
test (FIT)
Flatulence Hemorrhoid Ileus Impaction Incontinence Laxatives
Peristalsis Polyps
Introduction
Regular elimination of bowel waste products is essential for normal
body functioning.
o Irregular or not eliminating there are interventions for that
Alterations are early signs problems in the gastrointestinal tract or
other body systems.
o Other body systems involved in elimination = bladder, sweat,
kidneys, liver, etc.
Supportive nursing care respects a patient's privacy and emotional
needs.
GI Tract
Mouth
o Chews food, enzymes
Esophagus
Stomach
, o Stores food and liquid, mixes food with digestive liquids, stores
chyme, regulates emptying of contents, hydrochloric acid &
pepsin
o Stomach mucosa lining protects it from acid
Small intestine
o Enzymes breaking food down, absorption
Large intestine
o Enzymes breaking food down, absorption
Anus
Defecation
Factors Influencing Bowel Elimination
Age
o Everything slows down as you age
o Infants have smaller stomach
Diet
o What you’re putting into your body = what comes out
o Need fiber
Fluid intake
o Inadequate = constipation
Physical activity
o Helps GI tract
Psychological factors
o Stress = constipation, diarrhea
Personal habits
o Always eliminating when you wake up, or at a certain time during
the day
Position during defecation
o “squatty potty”
o Sitting upright
Pain
o Uncomfortableness may cause constipation
o If being treated for pain, meds can cause constipation
Pregnancy
o Elimination is impacted by sharing nutrients with baby and
pressure on organs
o Chronic constipation risk
Surgery and anesthesia
o Anesthesia causes constipation
Medications
Diagnostic tests
