A nurse is collecting data on a client who has a pleural effusion. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Choice A reason: The nurse applies the sterile drape prior to cleansing the perineal area. This is a correct action by the nurse, as it helps to prevent contamination of the catheter insertion site and maintain a sterile field.

Choice B reason: The nurse coats the indwelling urinary catheter with lubricant. This is a correct action by the nurse, as it helps to ease the insertion of the catheter and reduce the risk of trauma or infection.

Choice C reason: The nurse separates the client's labia with her dominant hand. This is an incorrect action by the nurse, as it violates the principle of sterile technique. The nurse should use her non-dominant hand to separate the labia and expose the urethral meatus, and use her dominant hand to hold the catheter. The non-dominant hand should not touch anything else after separating the labia, as it is considered contaminated.

Choice D reason: The nurse provides perineal care prior to inserting the urinary catheter. This is a correct action by the nurse, as it helps to reduce the bacterial load and prevent infection. The nurse should use soap and water to cleanse the perineal area from front to back, and use a new washcloth for each stroke.

Choice A: Taking the client to the bathroom every 2 hours while awake is not an effective strategy for bowel training. This may disrupt the client's natural bowel rhythm and cause unnecessary stress and frustration. Bowel training aims to establish a regular and predictable time for elimination, not a frequent and arbitrary one¹².
Choice B: Taking the client to the bathroom when they have the urge to defecate is the best option for bowel training. This helps the client to respond to their body's signals and avoid suppressing or delaying the urge. It also reinforces the association between the urge and the act of defecation, which can improve bowel control and prevent constipation¹².
Choice C: Taking the client to the bathroom immediately before meals is not a good idea for bowel training. This may interfere with the client's appetite and digestion, as well as their social and emotional well-being. Bowel training should not be associated with negative or unpleasant feelings. Moreover, eating stimulates the gastrocolic reflex, which increases the motility of the colon and the likelihood of having a bowel movement after a meal¹³.
Choice D: Taking the client to the bathroom after they feel abdominal cramping is not a reliable method for bowel training. Abdominal cramping may indicate various conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerance, infection, or inflammation. It may not always be related to the need to defecate. Waiting for cramping to occur may also delay the evacuation and worsen the symptoms¹³.