Nurses' Notes Postoperative Day 3 0900:

The client reports pain at the surgical incision site as 5 on a scale of 0 to 10. The client reports bladder fullness. Perineal dressing intact with minimal serosanguinous drainage. The client transferred out of bed to a chair independently. Extremities cool and dry with 2+ peripheral pulses.

1300:

The client reports abdominal cramping and small, hard, painful bowel movements after lunch. Ambulating independently in the hallway. Reports pain as 8 on a scale of 0 to 10. Urinary catheter intact with 100 mL/hr. of pink urine.

Select the 2 actions the nurse should prepare to take for the client.

This statement shows that the client understands the importance of monitoring the color of the stoma and seeking medical attention if any concerning changes occur. A purple or dark discoloration of the stoma can indicate inadequate blood supply to the area, which requires immediate medical evaluation.

"I will irrigate the colostomy every day." Colostomy irrigation is not typically done every day. It is a procedure used for some individuals with specific types of colostomies to establish a regular bowel movement pattern. The frequency and need for colostomy irrigation should be discussed and determined with the healthcare provider.

"I should expect my stool to be formed." Depending on the location and type of colostomy, the consistency of stool can vary. In the case of an ascending colostomy, the stool is usually liquid or semi-liquid because it is closer to the beginning of the large intestine. Expecting formed stool with an ascending colostomy would not be accurate.

"I will no longer be able to eat nuts." The ability to eat nuts or any other specific foods will depend on individual tolerance and the advice of a healthcare provider. In general, having a colostomy does not mean that all foods need to be eliminated from the diet. A well-balanced and varied diet can still be maintained with appropriate consideration for individual preferences and any dietary restrictions based on the specific situation.

A. Correct. An incident report should be completed for any unintended event or situation that could have resulted or did result in harm to a patient. Administering the wrong dose of medication falls under this category.
B. Incorrect. The nursing care plan is a comprehensive outline of a patient's care needs and interventions and is not the appropriate place to document a medication error.
C. Incorrect. The provider's progress notes are meant to document the patient's condition, care, and progress, but they are not used to document medication errors.
D. Incorrect. The controlled substance inventory record is used to track the dispensing and administration of controlled substances, not to document medication errors.