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NURSING DIAGNOSIS: Diarrhea
May be related to
- Inflammation, irritation, or malabsorption of the bowel
- Presence of toxins
- Segmental narrowing of the lumen
Possibly evidenced by
- Increased bowel sounds/peristalsis
- Frequent, and often severe, watery stools (acute phase)
- Changes in stool color
- Abdominal pain; urgency (sudden painful need to defecate), cramping
Desired Outcomes
Bowel Elimination (NOC)
- Report reduction in frequency of stools, return to more normal stool consistency.
- Identify/avoid contributing factors.
7 Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing Care Plan (NCP)
- Diarrhea — Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing Care Plan (NCP)
- Risk for Deficient Fluid Volume — Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing Care Plan (NCP)
- Anxiety — Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing Care Plan (NCP)
- Acute Pain — Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing Care Plan (NCP)
- Ineffective Coping — Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing Care Plan (NCP)
- Imbalanced Nutrition — Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing Care Plan (NCP)
- Knowledge Deficit — Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing Care Plan (NCP)
Diarrhea — Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing Care Plan (NCP): Nursing Interventions & Rationale
| Nursing Interventions | Rationale |
| Observe and record stool frequency, characteristics, amount, and precipitating factors. | Helps differentiate individual disease and assesses severity of episode. |
| Promote bedrest, provide bedside commode. | Rest decreases intestinal motility and reduces the metabolic rate when infection or hemorrhage is a complication. Urge to defecate may occur without warning and be uncontrollable, increasing risk of incontinence/falls if facilities are not close at hand. |
| Remove stool promptly. Provide room deodorizers. | Reduces noxious odors to avoid undue patient embarrassment. |
| Identify foods and fluids that precipitate diarrhea, e.g., raw vegetables and fruits, whole-grain cereals, condiments, carbonated drinks, milk products. | Avoiding intestinal irritants promotes intestinal rest. |
| Restart oral fluid intake gradually. Offer clear liquids hourly; avoid cold fluids. | Provides colon rest by omitting or decreasing the stimulus of foods/fluids. Gradual resumption of liquids may prevent cramping and recurrence of diarrhea; however, cold fluids can increase intestinal motility. |
| Provide opportunity to vent frustrations related to disease process. | Presence of disease with unknown cause that is difficult to cure and that may require surgical intervention can lead to stress reactions that may aggravate condition. |
| Observe for fever, tachycardia, lethargy, leukocytosis, decreased serum protein, anxiety, and prostration. | May signify that toxic megacolon or perforation and peritonitis are imminent/have occurred, necessitating immediate medical intervention. |
Found through:
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