NR 328
(EDAPT WEEK 4)
Care of the Child with Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
Pediatric Nursing
, lOMoARcPSD|51648332
Care of the Child with
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
This lesson provides an overview of pediatric gastrointestinal (GI)
disorders and how the nurse applies the nursing process in caring
for pediatric clients with GI disorders. The primary function of the GI
tract is the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Thus, any
dysfunction of the GI tract can cause significant problems with the
exchange of fluids, electrolytes, and nutrients.
This lesson will focus on the nursing care of children with
constipation, Hirschsprung disease, gastroesophageal reflux,
appendicitis, pyloric stenosis, and intussusception.
Management of Care:
Preoperative
The nurse is caring for a child who will be having abdominal surgery.
Which nursing action(s) does the nurse anticipate performing prior
to surgery? Select all that apply.
Administer prescribed intravenous fluids.
Request services from child life specialist.
Administer prescribed preoperative antibiotics.
Prepare surgical consent and witness informed consent.
In preparing a patient for surgery, the nurse would anticipate
inserting a peripheral intravenous line, administering intravenous
fluids, administering prescribed preoperative antibiotics, preparing
the surgical consent and witnessing informed consent. The nurse
would also request services from a child life specialist to help the
pediatric client cope with the pending surgery and hospital
experience.
Downloaded by Benjamin Luca ()
, lOMoARcPSD|51648332
Management of Care:
Postoperative
The nurse is caring for a child who just returned to the pediatric unit after having an abdominal
surgery. Which nursing action(s) does the nurse anticipate performing? Select all that apply.
Monitor vital signs per post-operative protocol.
Advance oral intake as tolerated.
Assess surgical wound and/or dressing.
Assess for return of bowel sounds.
Administer pain medication as prescribed.
When caring for a pediatric client after abdominal surgery, the nurse
would anticipate the need to monitor vital signs per post-operative
protocol, assess for return of bowel sounds, advance oral intake as
tolerated, assess pain and administer pain medication as prescribed,
and to assess the surgical wound and/or dressing.
Nursing Action: Postoperative
Care
The nurse is caring for a 6-year-old child who is 4 hours post-
operative from a ruptured appendectomy. Ibuprofen was
administered 2 hours ago and the child rates pain as 1 out of 10.
The child’s intake includes water, crackers, a cup of gelatin, and a
bottle of juice. Review the health care provider’s orders.
Which action should the nurse take next?
Saline lock the intravenous line.
The nurse has already advanced the diet as tolerated. Since the
client is tolerating oral intake, the intravenous fluids should be
discontinued. The peripheral intravenous line should be saline
locked and not removed because the client still has intravenous
antibiotics prescribed. The ibuprofen is not due for administration
and is not indicated at this time.
Downloaded by Benjamin Luca ()
, lOMoARcPSD|51648332
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
The most common consequences of gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction
in children include malabsorption, fluid and electrolyte disturbances,
malnutrition, and poor growth. The most important basic nursing
assessments include measurement of intake and output, height and
weight, abdominal examination, and simple stool and urine tests.
There are several types of GI dysfunction in children which can be
classified as general GI disorders, motility disorders, inflammatory
conditions, obstructive disorders, malabsorption syndromes, and
structural defects. Below are examples of each classification of GI
dysfunction.
This lesson will focus on constipation, Hirschsprung disease,
gastroesophageal reflux, appendicitis, pyloric stenosis, and
intussusception.
Malabsorption Syndromes
celiac disease
short-bowel syndrome
gastrointestinal bleeding
General Gastrointestinal Disorders
constipation
diarrhea
vomiting
Motility Disorders
Hirschsprung disease
gastroesophageal reflux
irritable bowel syndrome
Inflammatory Conditions
appendicitis
inflammatory bowel disease
Structural Defects
Downloaded by Benjamin Luca ()
(EDAPT WEEK 4)
Care of the Child with Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
Pediatric Nursing
, lOMoARcPSD|51648332
Care of the Child with
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
This lesson provides an overview of pediatric gastrointestinal (GI)
disorders and how the nurse applies the nursing process in caring
for pediatric clients with GI disorders. The primary function of the GI
tract is the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Thus, any
dysfunction of the GI tract can cause significant problems with the
exchange of fluids, electrolytes, and nutrients.
This lesson will focus on the nursing care of children with
constipation, Hirschsprung disease, gastroesophageal reflux,
appendicitis, pyloric stenosis, and intussusception.
Management of Care:
Preoperative
The nurse is caring for a child who will be having abdominal surgery.
Which nursing action(s) does the nurse anticipate performing prior
to surgery? Select all that apply.
Administer prescribed intravenous fluids.
Request services from child life specialist.
Administer prescribed preoperative antibiotics.
Prepare surgical consent and witness informed consent.
In preparing a patient for surgery, the nurse would anticipate
inserting a peripheral intravenous line, administering intravenous
fluids, administering prescribed preoperative antibiotics, preparing
the surgical consent and witnessing informed consent. The nurse
would also request services from a child life specialist to help the
pediatric client cope with the pending surgery and hospital
experience.
Downloaded by Benjamin Luca ()
, lOMoARcPSD|51648332
Management of Care:
Postoperative
The nurse is caring for a child who just returned to the pediatric unit after having an abdominal
surgery. Which nursing action(s) does the nurse anticipate performing? Select all that apply.
Monitor vital signs per post-operative protocol.
Advance oral intake as tolerated.
Assess surgical wound and/or dressing.
Assess for return of bowel sounds.
Administer pain medication as prescribed.
When caring for a pediatric client after abdominal surgery, the nurse
would anticipate the need to monitor vital signs per post-operative
protocol, assess for return of bowel sounds, advance oral intake as
tolerated, assess pain and administer pain medication as prescribed,
and to assess the surgical wound and/or dressing.
Nursing Action: Postoperative
Care
The nurse is caring for a 6-year-old child who is 4 hours post-
operative from a ruptured appendectomy. Ibuprofen was
administered 2 hours ago and the child rates pain as 1 out of 10.
The child’s intake includes water, crackers, a cup of gelatin, and a
bottle of juice. Review the health care provider’s orders.
Which action should the nurse take next?
Saline lock the intravenous line.
The nurse has already advanced the diet as tolerated. Since the
client is tolerating oral intake, the intravenous fluids should be
discontinued. The peripheral intravenous line should be saline
locked and not removed because the client still has intravenous
antibiotics prescribed. The ibuprofen is not due for administration
and is not indicated at this time.
Downloaded by Benjamin Luca ()
, lOMoARcPSD|51648332
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
The most common consequences of gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction
in children include malabsorption, fluid and electrolyte disturbances,
malnutrition, and poor growth. The most important basic nursing
assessments include measurement of intake and output, height and
weight, abdominal examination, and simple stool and urine tests.
There are several types of GI dysfunction in children which can be
classified as general GI disorders, motility disorders, inflammatory
conditions, obstructive disorders, malabsorption syndromes, and
structural defects. Below are examples of each classification of GI
dysfunction.
This lesson will focus on constipation, Hirschsprung disease,
gastroesophageal reflux, appendicitis, pyloric stenosis, and
intussusception.
Malabsorption Syndromes
celiac disease
short-bowel syndrome
gastrointestinal bleeding
General Gastrointestinal Disorders
constipation
diarrhea
vomiting
Motility Disorders
Hirschsprung disease
gastroesophageal reflux
irritable bowel syndrome
Inflammatory Conditions
appendicitis
inflammatory bowel disease
Structural Defects
Downloaded by Benjamin Luca ()
