A nurse is admitting a client who is hesitant to create advance directives due to concerns about affording legal representation.

Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

The correct answer is choice D. Administer a cathartic suppository 30 min prior to scheduled defecation times. This is because a cathartic suppository stimulates the nerve endings in the rectum, causing a contraction of the bowel and facilitating defecation. This is especially helpful for clients who have an upper motor neuron or reflexic bowel, which means they have lost the ability to feel when the rectum is full and have a tight anal sphincter muscle. A

bowel program is a way of controlling or moving the bowels after a spinal cord injury, which may affect normal bowel function depending on the spinal level involved. A bowel program aims to achieve regular bowel movements, prevent constipation or impaction, and avoid accidents.

Choice A is wrong because encouraging a maximum fluid intake of 1,500 mL per day is not enough to prevent constipation and promote bowel health. A fluid intake of at least 2,000 mL per day is recommended for most adults.

Choice B is wrong because increasing the amount of refined grains in the client’s diet can worsen constipation and reduce stool bulk.

Refined grains are low in fiber, which is essential for normal bowel function. A high-fiber diet of at least 20 to 35 grams per day is advised for clients with spinal cord injury.

Choice C is wrong because providing the client with a cold drink prior to defecation can have the opposite effect of stimulating the bowel.

Cold drinks can slow down the digestive process and reduce peristalsis, which is the movement of food through the intestines. Warm or hot drinks can help stimulate the bowel and increase peristalsis.